Preparation for Nepal's municipal elections to be held on Feb. 8, 2006, has been completed, according to Chief Election Commissioner (EC) Keshav Raj Rajbhandari.

Talking to reporters here on Saturday, the chief said the elections will be held in a free fair and impartial manner, and expected cooperation from all sectors.

Expressing the confidence that all the political parties will take part in the forthcoming elections, he said no one should try to disturb the elections.

Rajbhandari informed that some 72 political parties have registered their parties in the EC, and some of the parties have not registered.

Even the nationally recognized political parties who have not registered at the EC could take part in the elections if they submit candidacy nomination letters 15 days prior to the event, he added.

Nepali government has said that it is ready to invite an international agency to monitor polls.

A total of 4,146 office-bearers will be elected in the elections to be held in one metropolis, four sub-metropolis and 53 municipalities in 43 districts of the country, according to the EC.

Likewise, the total number of voters for the elections is 19,42, 990 including 966,189 women.

Altogether 1,394 election centers have been determined for the elections for which around 8,800 employees are to be mobilized.

The EC has also made public a total of 102 election symbols to be used by candidates in the election.

There are 58 municipalities in the country including four sub- metropolis and one metropolis.

Last municipal elections took place in 1997.

Source: Xinhua