20 years on Nepal votes in local polls
One killed in police firing as 75 per cent votes cast in first phase.
Kathmandu: Millions of Nepalese on Sunday voted in the country’s first local-level polls in two decades as the Himalayan nation took a crucial step towards cementing democracy amid political turmoil.
Authorities recorded a 71 per cent voter turnout with sporadic election-related violence reported and one person killed in police firing in Dolakha district, 120 km east of Kathmandu. The election commission has postponed polling in three centres, one each in Kavre, Kalikot and Dolakha districts.
Date for fresh voting will be announced shortly, officials said. “First phase of local poll passes peacefully with estimated 71 per cent turnout,” the election commission said.
The voting took place in almost 18,438 polling centres. Chief election commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav thanked the voters for the overwhelming participation in the local- level elections.
He said voting was conducted in a free and fair manner. “The first phase have concluded in a peaceful manner.” Ballot boxes from remote locations are being airlifted to the respective headquarters in some districts, he said.
Vote counting in Kathmandu and Lalitpur municipalities are expected to begin tonight while counting in other parts of the countries are likely to begin tomorrow morning. Though the process was by-and-large peaceful, some instances of violence were reported.