KATHMANDU : Acting President of the Nepali Congress Purna Bahadur Khadka has called for a swift resolution to the disputes within the party, emphasizing the importance of adhering to past decisions and the precedents set by the Election Commission.

Today, he visited the Commission accompanied by a majority of the office-bearers and members from the Central Committee elected from the party’s 14th General Convention, where they submitted party documents and sought resolution of the ongoing issues.

Khadka made it clear that any determination of Congress’s official status that contradicts the Commission’s previous decisions regarding party splits would be deemed invalid.

In light of various news reports concerning Congress from multiple media sources, he presented a report to Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari, indicating that 885 convention delegates had retracted their signatures in relation to a special convention.

Congress leader Dr Shekhar Koirala expressed optimism that the party’s official status would be resolved through democratic processes and noted that the entire central committee was present to support this request.

He pointed out that no commissioner could attain official status by initiating the election programme at Tundikhel, expressing confidence that the resolution of Congress’s disputes would also follow similar principles.

After receiving the submitted documents, Acting Chief Commissioner Bhandari remarked that the commission would reach a decision in accordance with legal standards and procedures, and he encouraged active involvement in all election activities.

KATHMANDU: Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has said that preparedness is necessary to reduce earthquake damage.

Addressing a program held at local Bhugol Park, New Road to commemorate the 28th National Earthquake Safety Day today, he emphasized the need to enhance inter-governmental coordination to face disasters.

Home Minister Aryal stated that the efforts made by local governments should be institutionalized.

“Mutual practice and learning can enhance capacity. We must work on enhancing capacity in the implementation of basic indicators for civic awareness and a resilient city,” he said.

Chairperson of the commemorative program and Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Sunita Dangol, said that the community’s capacity should be made a tool for disaster preparedness, search and rescue, rehabilitation, and recovery.

“The first responders and supporters during disasters are the communities themselves. For a metropolitan city to become disaster-resilient, intergovernmental coordination, mutual exchange of knowledge and skills, and integrated planning are the first prerequisites. Let us work together for this,” she added.

At the program, Coordinator of the Disaster Management Committee of KMC, Prem Thapa, said, “Indigenous skills can be used to build resilient structures. Our ancient structures have withstood the tremors of large earthquakes. Let’s promote these skills.”

Officials from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, municipal council members of the metropolitan city, department heads, and representatives of non-governmental and social organizations active in disaster management attended in the programme.

The Earthquake Safety Day is observed with the slogan ‘Governments at all levels, preparedness of all citizens: Earthquake-Resilient Nepal, the responsibility from now on’.

This Day is observed every year in commemoration of the devastating earthquakes of January 16, 1934 (Magh 2, 1990 BS) to raise awareness so that future generations do not have to bear the damage caused by the 1990 BS earthquake and the subsequent ones.

Earthquake Safety Day has been observed every year on Magh 2 since 2055 BS with the aim of involving generations in building safe settlements, based on the lessons learned from past devastating earthquakes.

KATHMANDU: The offices for the Chief Election Officer and Election Officer across all 165 constituencies will be established today in preparation for the House of Representatives elections set for March 5.

Kul Bahadur GC, the Assistant spokesperson for the Election Commission, said that the Chief Election Officer’s office will be located in the district headquarters, while Election Officer Offices will be set up in constituencies beyond the headquarters.

In total, there will be 77 Chief Election Officer Offices situated in district headquarters, alongside Election Officer Offices in 88 constituencies outside these headquarters.

The Chief Election Officer office will be led by the Chief Judge of the District Court, with 77 Chief District Judges appointed as Chief Election Officers and 88 second-class judiciary service officers designated as Election Officers.

KATHMANDU: Aadima Nepal, the country’s emerging online fashion marketplace, celebrated its first anniversary on Thursday.

Launched on January 15, 2025, the platform was introduced to transform Nepal’s digital fashion landscape.

Prior to its launch, online sales were fragmented, dominated by social media and informal messaging channels, with limited consumer safeguards.

Shortly after the launch, the platform became the talk of the town with successfully managing the increasing number of demands.

Aadima currently offers clothing, footwear and accessories for men and women, bringing together several international fashion brands on a single platform.

The platform delivers to customers nationwide, reaching both cities and far-flung areas.

With a user-friendly website and delivery options that include same-day and next-day service in selected locations, Aadima is emerging as a leading force in Nepal’s online shopping sector.

KATHMANDU: The Election Commission (EC) has explicitly stipulated the duties, responsibilities and authorities of the returning officers for the House of Representatives (HoR) elections announced for March 5.

According to the EC-determined ‘HoR Member Voting Directive, 2082′, the returning officers, once appointed, shall participate in the election related training program and receive the election materials after verifications.

Likewise, the directive has specified an arrangement that the election officers shall receive other election materials related to voters’ ID card and polling centers after verifications.

The returning officers shall reach the designated polling center and coordinate with the assistant returning officers, other staff, and security personnel assigned.

The designated officer shall reach the stipulated site to set up the polling center, and in cases voting cannot take place at the assigned polling center due to security, geographical difficulties, or any other reasons, another polling center needs to be established immediately, the directive stated.

And, this information shall be promptly conveyed to the chief election officer, it is noted.

Voter identity cards must be distributed in advance before the polling day.

Staff and volunteers assigned to the polling center must be allocated tasks and involved in the voting work.

The directive has arranged that before giving the ballot paper to the voters, signatures must be placed on the ballots, and the polling process must be carried out efficiently with vigilance, monitoring of the polling activities, and informing the election officer about the activities on polling day from time to time.

On voting day, the returning officer must inform various mobile teams, observers, journalists, facilitators, and security personnel coming to the polling center about the voting situation, ensure full compliance with the election code of conduct, prevent any illegal activities, and perform such tasks.

Similarly, before and after voting, they must have the ballot boxes and other election materials properly documented and submit them securely to the election officer.

Likewise, it is the duty of the returning officer to exercise the powers provided under the Election (Offenses and Punishment) Act, 2073 BS, and to ensure that the election is conducted in a free, fair, and independent manner.