South Asian News Network

Kathmandu, Oct 8: Voting is taking place today to pick a new central working committee of the Nepali Congress (NC) under its 15th General Convention underway in Kathmandu. According to a notice issued by the Election Committee’s member-secretary Raju Katwal, voting to select the new leadership will start from 1.00 pm today. At the general convention, 7,255 delegates will cast their vote to elect the new central committee. The election committee had already released the final list of aspirants running for president, other office-bearers, and central members on Wednesday evening. Earlier, the committee had announced that voting would start at 7:00 am today. However, due to heavy rain and some technical issues, the election committee said the voting time was postponed for 1.00 pm. Prem Bahadur Khadka, convener of the central election committee, informed that voting will take place from 1.00 pm. Separate voting centers have been arranged for the delegates based on their provinces and representation. According to the revised election schedule, delegates from Bagmati Province will vote at voting center ‘A’ in the National City Hall. As informed, Khula Manch (open theatre) has been designated as voting center ‘B’. It has been set up for delegates from Koshi Province and the Terai–Madhes group. Similarly, delegates from Gandaki Province will vote at Himal Hall in Khula Manch . For representatives of Madhes Province at Khula Manch, Terai–Madhes Hall has been designated. Representatives from Lumbini Province, Karnali Province, Sudurpashchim Province, the Nepali Janasamparka Samiti, and affiliated organizations will vote from Pahad Hall at Khula Manch. The election committee has requested that after entering the polling area, representatives go to the polling center designated for their province and group to cast their votes. Before voting, the representative’s ID and the voter list will be verified. According to the election committee, mobile phones and other materials prohibited by the election code are not allowed inside the polling area. Representatives will only be able to vote after completing the procedure set by the election committee. Voting will pick the president, vice-presidents, general secretaries, joint general secretaries, and various other central members. The election committee has stated that vote counting will begin after the voting for the selection of new leadership. The 15th General Convention amended the party statute to make the NC Central Working Committee of 297 members. —