Nepali Congress Vote Counting Ends, Oath Ceremony After Dashain

KATHMANDU- Vote counting for the election of new leadership at the Nepali Congress’s 15th general convention concluded on Friday morning, with the party planning to distribute certificates and hold the oath-taking ceremony after Dashain.

The counting process, which began on the night of Asoj 23, ended after the final results from Madhesh and Bagmati provinces were received.

According to Raju Katuwal, member secretary of the election committee, counting for central committee members representing Lumbini and Gandaki provinces, the Kathmandu Valley, workers, families of martyrs, and conflict victims had been completed overnight.

Counting for the posts of joint general secretary and central committee members under the Khas Arya and Tharu categories, including open and women’s seats, also concluded late at night, he said. The committee was verifying the results before making them public. Counting for other positions had already been completed.

The counting process began after voting on Asoj 23, with the votes for party president counted that night. The presidential election result was announced on the morning of Asoj 24.

Counting for other positions began on the night of Asoj 24 at the party’s central office in Bipinagar, Sanepa, after the presidential votes were counted at the National Assembly Hall.

Katuwal said the counting process was completed in about a week, compared with 12 days during the party’s 14th general convention, when votes from 4,700 voters were counted. This time, the committee counted ballots from 7,392 voters.

According to Katuwal, nearly 25 teams worked in shifts during the day and night from the start of counting. He said the election was completed in a cordial atmosphere, without disputes during voting or counting.

Around 162,000 ballot papers had to be counted, he said. Elections were held for 229 positions across 77 categories, with each voter required to cast votes using 23 ballot papers.

Katuwal said the counting process was more than twice as fast as at the previous general convention.

The party plans to distribute certificates and hold the oath-taking ceremony immediately after Dashain. Leaders said the new central working committee will hold its first meeting after the ceremony. The meeting is also expected to discuss a framework for the upcoming local-level elections.