National Assembly elections underway across the country, Congress-UML alliance leads in Gandaki

Voting is underway Sunday to fill vacant National Assembly seats across Nepal. This time, 19 seats are being contested, with provincial assembly members and local leaders (mayors and deputy mayors) serving as voters. Voting started at 9 a.m. and will continue until 3 p.m.

In Gandaki Province, voting is held for the seats previously held by CPN-UML leaders Narayankaji Shrestha and Bhagwati Nyaupane. Nepali Congress has fielded Professor Dr. Jagat Timilsina, while UML has nominated Sanjhana Devkota.

The provincial assembly has 59 provincial lawmakers and 85 local leaders as voters. Each provincial lawmaker has a vote weight of 53, and each local leader has 19.

Congress: 27 lawmakers (vote weight 1,431) + 66 local leaders (vote weight 1,252) = total 2,683

UML: 22 lawmakers (vote weight 1,166) + 70 local leaders (vote weight 1,330) = total 2,496

Although Congress has the highest vote weight in Gandaki, the alliance ensures a combined vote weight of 5,179, surpassing the two-thirds majority.

Other party candidates:

-CPN: 7 provincial lawmakers + 30 local leaders (vote weight 941), candidates: Goma Ghimire, Kapil Lama

-Rastriya Janamorcha: 4 local leaders (vote weight 76), candidates: Shankar Prasad Baral, Laxmi Baskota

-Rastriya Prajatantra Party: 2 provincial lawmakers (vote weight 106), no candidate

-Progressive Democratic Party: 1 provincial lawmaker, no candidate