The overall voter turnout in the municipal elections held on Feb. 8 in Nepal was 21.22 percent, Election commission (EC) of Nepal said in Kathmandu Friday.

"A total of 306,280 of the total 1,443,310 voters in 36 municipalities across the country cast their ballots in the elections held on Wednesday," EC said in a press statement.

Meanwhile, Rajaram Shrestha and Bimala Rana of Rastriya Prajatantra Party led by Home Minister Kamal Thapa, are elected for the post of mayor and deputy mayor of Kathmandu city of capital Kathmandu.

The municipal elections, third after the restoration of democracy in 1990, have been mired in controversy right from the start, as the major opposition parties have boycotted it while the anti-government guerrillas have targeted the candidates and threatened to disrupt the polls.

Of the 58 municipalities in 43 districts, the election is being conducted in just 36 municipalities in 28 districts.

Out of 4146 posts available, voting is being held just for 618 posts contested by 1682 candidates of small parties and independent contestants who are running for the posts of mayors, deputy mayors,ward chairmen, ward members and women members.

Apparently, 2251 posts remained vacant as no candidates registered their names while the candidates were elected unopposed for 1277 posts.

Source: Xinhua