Local elections have been held from 2004 to 2079. These elections brought the practice of democracy to the villages.
What you should know
The foundation was laid for the first election in Nepal after the announcement of Shri 3 Padmasambhava. Accordingly, the first election was held on 29 Jestha 2004. Four forts of Kathmandu Municipality were determined for the election and 21 wards were established within them.
There was a provision for one person to be elected in each ward. Finally, the voter list was prepared including the names of men who had reached the age of 21. A total of 68,118 voters were determined from 13,553 households. It was estimated that 60 to 65 percent of the votes were cast in the election.
After some legal reforms, re-election was held in Kathmandu Municipality on 17 Bhadra 2010. This time, the number of wards was reduced to 18. The voting age remained at 21 years. This time, women were also allowed to vote and become candidates. In this election, which saw 53 percent of the votes cast, Sadhana Devi Pradhan was elected from ward number 8, who is the first female public representative of Nepal.
Shortly after the election in Kathmandu in 2004, elections were also held in Bhaktapur and Lalitpur municipalities. The elections were held in Lalitpur wards on 29 Bhadra 2009, and in Bhaktapur wards on 26 Asho 2009. Similarly, elections were also held in Biratnagar and Birgunj municipalities in 2010.
Elections were also held in various municipalities in 2014. Elections were held in 18 wards of Kathmandu Municipality on Magh 7. 50.18 percent of the votes were cast in this election. Similarly, elections were held in Lalitpur Municipality on Magh 2 and in Birgunj Municipality on Falgun 30. Elections were held in Bhadrapur Municipality on Falgun, Tansen Municipality on Shrawan, Biratnagar Municipality on Mangsir and Bhaktapur Municipality on Kartik. The process of forming village panchayats began after King Mahendra's 'coup' in 2017.
Elections were held at various times in 2018. A policy was taken that a city panchayat could be established in any city with a population of 10,000 or more after the panchayat. In addition, the elections to the 14 declared city panchayats of the kingdom were held by Jestha 2019. After the second amendment made in the Panchayat Constitution of 2019 in 2032, the method of conducting local body elections was changed.
The 14 zones were divided into 4 parts and elections were held once in four years in each group. Accordingly, elections were started in all the village panchayats/town panchayats of the districts under the zone from 2032 onwards, 2033 Magh 29 to 2034 Magh 29, and 2035 Magh 29 to 40. After the referendum of 2037, the third amendment was made to the Constitution of 2019.
Then, the direct system was adopted in the village panchayat and town panchayat elections. The elections were held on 28 and 31 Baisakh and 3 and 4 Jestha 2039 for 4022 village panchayats and 29 town panchayats across the country in groups 'A' and 'B'. 189034 local representatives were elected at the rate of 47 in each village panchayat. Similarly, more than 2500 representatives were elected from 29 town panchayats according to their wards.
During the 2043 village and city panchayat elections, 4015 village panchayats and 33 city panchayats were established. That year, the elections were held in two phases on Chaitra 7 and 10. After the 2046 people's movement, a new constitution was promulgated in 2047. After that, local elections were organized in a new format. When the local elections were held in 2049, the number of village development committees was fixed at 3995 and the number of municipalities was fixed at 36.
At that time, there was a provision to divide VDCs into 9 wards. Similarly, there was a provision to form metropolises, sub-metropolitan cities and municipalities by establishing up to 35 wards. At that time, a chairman, vice-chairman and one member each were elected in VDCs. In municipalities, a mayor, deputy mayor and one member each were elected in each ward.
Voting was held in 2030 VDCs and 11 municipalities of the kingdom included in the first phase on 15 Jestha 2049 and voting was held in 1965 VDCs and 25 municipalities included in the second phase on 18 Jestha. Thus, in both phases, elections were held for 3995 VDC chairpersons/vice-chairpersons and 35955 members and 36 mayors/deputy mayors and 522 members in municipalities.
After 2049, local elections were held in 2054. At that time, the number of VDCs had reached 3913 and the number of municipalities had reached 58. And, the process of forming VDCs was also changed. This time, VDCs had to vote for a chairperson, vice-chairperson, four ward members from each ward and one female ward member.
Municipalities also had to vote for a mayor, deputy chief, four ward members and one female ward member. Elections were held on 4 Jestha 2054 in VDCs/municipalities of the districts under the 3 development zones of Sudurpaschimanchal, Mid-Paschimanchal and Paschimanchal and on 13 Jestha in VDCs/municipalities of the Central and Eastern Development Zones.
After 2054, local elections were to be held in 2059. However, at that time, the Maoist armed struggle was at its peak and its impact on power politics was also felt. Issues such as the state of emergency and the dissolution of parliament led to uncertainty over the election. After the then King Gyanendra Shah took power on 19 Magh 2061, municipal elections were held in 2062.
Despite the opposition and boycott of major political parties, on 26 Magh 2062, elections were held in 58 municipalities in 43 districts for a total of 4146 posts, including 58/58 municipal mayors and deputy mayors, 806 ward chairmen and 2418 ward members and 806 women ward members. At that time, all posts in 22 municipalities were elected unopposed. Voting was held in 36 municipalities in 28 districts.
After the promulgation of the constitution in 2072, local level elections have been held in 2074 and 2079. However, this is not the same body as before, but a level/government. The local level, that is, each municipality elects a chair/mayor and vice-chair/deputy mayor. Similarly, in the wards within those municipalities, a ward chairperson, two (open) members, a female member, and a Dalit female member are also elected.
Accordingly, in 2074, the local level elections were held in three phases. Accordingly, elections were held in 34 districts of the then Provinces 3, 4, and 6 on April 31. On Asad 14, local level elections were held in 35 districts of the then Provinces 1, 5, and 7. And, on Asoj 2, local level elections were held in 8 districts of the then Province 2. In 2079, elections were held simultaneously across the country on April 30.
