- Sunday, 1 February 2026
Kathmandu, Feb 1: The work of printing ballot papers for the first-past-the-post (FPTP) of the upcoming House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5 has been completed.
According to the Election Commission, ballot papers for 18 constituencies in a total of 15 districts have been printed so far at Janak Education Materials Limited, Bhaktapur. Ballot papers for FPTP elections in Dolpa, Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot, Humla, Salyan, Jajarkot has been printed.
Similarly, ballot papers for FPTP elections in Dailekh constituency no. 1 and 2, Surkhet constituency no. 1 and 2, Rukum Paschim, Bajura and Achham constituency no. 1 and 2, Kailali constituency no. 1, Jhapa constituency no. 5 and Sunsari constituency no. 1 has been printed.
Prior to this, 20.083 million ballot papers for the proportional representation (PR) system have been printed.
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02- Request to provide details of environmental inspectors
Kathmandu, Feb 1: The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) has communicated to all municipalities in the country to provide details of environmental inspectors.
As requested by the Ministry of Forests and Environment, the MoFAGA has written to all local levels to provide information about environmental inspectors. The ministry has requested them to provide information on how many environmental inspectors are currently at the federal, provincial and local levels across the country, and how many are required for the country.
The provincial and local levels have been requested to provide details in the prescribed format on whether the available human resources are able to address the country’s environmental issues. Environmental inspectors have been provided for obtaining necessary information on environmental issues, and carrying out essential work for environmental protection.
The Ministry of Federal Affairs has written to provide details on whether the available human resources are able to complete the specified work, and how many posts need to be filled. The Department of Environment under the Ministry of Forests and Environment has requested the details.
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03- HoR elections: Parties striving to woo young voters
Kanchanpur, Feb 1: Political parties in Kanchanpur have expanded their organizational presence and campaign to the ward level for the upcoming election to the House of Representatives.
Competition among parties is intensifying, targeting young voters in the lead up to the March 5 elections. The election atmosphere has become more enthusiastic with the major parties establishing liaison offices, appointing ward coordinators and intensifying door-to-door campaigns.
Major parties including the Nepali Congress, CPN (UML), Nepali Communist Party (NCP), Rastriya Swatantra Party and others have intensified their campaign by opening liaison offices in all 92 wards of nine local levels under the three constituencies.
According to Karan Singh Ayer, President of Nepali Congress Constituency No. 2 (2), the campaign has been taken forward by inaugurating campaign offices at the ward level in all three constituencies.
Gopi Prasad Upadhyay is the candidate for Constituency No. 1, former Minister NP Saud is the candidate for Constituency No. 2, and Hari Prasad Bohara is the candidate for Constituency No. 3.
The Nepali Communist Party (NCP) has also intensified its campaign by establishing a ward-level mechanism and publicity office, said Mahesh Dutt Joshi, coordinator of the publicity subcommittee. Former Minister Bina Magar is the candidate for Constituency No. 1, Madhav Prasad Pant is the candidate for Constituency No. 2, and Man Bahadur Sunar is the candidate for Constituency No. 3.
Similarly, the CPN (UML) has also expanded the formation of an election mechanism up to the ward level and has taken the campaign forward. According to UML district member Jagat Bahadur Singh, cadres have been mobilized with responsibility to ensure win for the party candidates. Tara Lama Tamang is the candidate for Constituency No. 1, Bachan Bahadur Singh is the candidate for Constituency No. 2, and Dr. Deepak Prakash Bhatta is the candidate for Constituency No. 3.
Meanwhile, the newly emerged political force, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is likely to give a tough competition to the traditional forces in all three constituencies. The RSP has intensified its campaign by organizing youth and continuing its door-to-door campaign with candidates. Janak Singh Dhami is the candidate in Constituency No. 1, Deepak Raj Bohara in Constituency No. 2, and Gyanendra Singh Mahata in Constituency No. 3.
Similarly, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) is presenting its election agenda through group interactions and discussions with voters in the wards. Other political parties and independent candidates have also taken up door-to-door campaigns.
During this election, the main focus of all political parties is on young voters. The candidates are trying to attract the youth by presenting an agenda of solving unemployment, ensuring quality education, and information technology-based development. “The youth want change, so our priority is focused on plans related to their future,” said Madhav Prasad Pant, a candidate from NCP Constituency No. 2. “Since we are also young, we are moving forward with the demands of the youth at the forefront.”
As the election fever increases, debates about the personality and agenda of the candidates have begun in the nooks and squares of Kanchanpur. Local voters say that the liaison offices established at the ward level have created an environment for voters to communicate directly with the candidates.
A total of 55 candidates are in the fray for the election of members of the House of Representatives in all three constituencies of the district. Of these, 44 are from different political parties and 11 are independent candidates.
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04- Fog and Mist likely over Tarai region today
Kathmandu, Feb 1: Fog and mist is likely at some places over the Tarai region today. Furthermore, generally cloudy conditions are expected over the hilly and mountainous regions of Karnali and Sudurpashchim Provinces.
Partly cloudy conditions are likely over the remaining mountainous areas including Koshi Province, while the weather will remain mainly fair over the rest of the country, says the 8:00 am bulletin by the Meteorological Forecasting Division. There is a possibility of light snowfall and rain at one or two places in the high hilly and mountainous regions of Karnali and Sudurpashchim Provinces.
Later tonight, fog is likely to continue in few places in the Tarai region. Generally cloudy conditions are expected over the hilly and mountainous regions of Gandaki, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim Provinces, while the weather will remain mainly fair over the rest of the country.
In addition, there is possibility of light snowfall and rain at one or two places in the high hilly and mountainous regions of Gandaki, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim Provinces.
Furthermore, the meteorological analysis by the Division states that a western low-pressure system is currently affecting the western region of the country.
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05- 29 dead, 190 injured in six months in Sarlahi
Barahathawa (Sarlahi), Feb 1: A total of 29 people have died and 190 have been seriously injured in road accidents that took place in Sarlahi in the first six months of the current fiscal year.
During the period 641 road accidents involving small and large four-wheelers and motorcycles occurred, with most of the fatalities including motorcyclists and public vehicle passengers, aAccording to Chief of the District Traffic Police Office, Police Inspector Ashok Sah.
Accidents occur more often when drivers and pedestrians violate traffic rules. However, violation of traffic rules is significant with, Rs 4.8 million collected in revenue from action taken against drivers violating traffic rules. Police Inspector Sah said that action was taken against those who did not have a driver’s license, were not wearing a helmet, were not carrying a travel permit, and were carrying passengers more than their capacity.
The police have been strictly monitoring to ensure the enforcement of provision of having two drivers in long-distance passenger buses. Of the 7,277 long-distance passenger buses monitored during the period 22 were found to have violated the rule, Sah said.
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06- HoR election: 1,442 employees to be deployed in Baitadi
Dasarath Chand (Baitadi), Feb 1: More than 1,400 employees are to be deployed in Baitadi for the upcoming House of Representatives member election scheduled to be held on coming March 5. According to the District Election Office, 1,442 employees will be deployed in 214 polling stations.
Election Office Chief Khagendra Bharati shared that details have been requested from government offices here for the mobilization of employees for the election. He said that the work of collecting details of employees to be deployed in the election and mobilizing them will be taken forward within a few days.
There are 11 candidates in Baitadi standing for a lone constituency in the district with 156,372 voters. Out of them, 78,987 are men, 77,383 are women and two fall under the ‘other’ category. Eight employees will be deployed in polling stations with more than 500 voters and seven in centers with less than that, shared Information Officer Naresh Dayal.
From a security perspective, 33 polling stations in the district have been placed on the highly sensitive list. According to the District Security Committee, out of 129 polling stations, 33 have been classified as highly sensitive, 28 as sensitive and 68 as general.
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