By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu Jan 24 : Eighteen members were elected to the National Assembly, the Upper House of the Federal Parliament, on Thursday.
Of the 18 seats, 16 seats went to the ruling Nepal Communist Party and two to its new alliance, Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N). The NCP and RJP-N had forged alliance for the NA election.

Those elected from the ruling NCP included party spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha and leader Beduram Bhusal. Shrestha was elected from Gandaki State and Bhusal from Bagmati State.

According to the Election Commission, NCP candidates Indira Devi Gautam, Gopi Bahadur Sharki Acchami and Devendra Dahal were elected from State 1 and Tulasha Kumari Dahal and Radheshyam Paswan from State 2.

The EC informed that two candidates of RJP Shekhar Kumar Singh and Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav were elected from the State 2.

Similarly, NCP candidates Ganga Kumari Belbase from Bagmati State, Bhagwati Neupane from Gandaki State and Bimala Ghimire, Jag Prasad Sharma and Gopal Bhattari from State-5 were elected.

Likewise, Sumitra B.C. and Maya Prasad Sharma were elected from Karnali State and Sharada Devi Bhatta and Taraman Swar from Sudurpaschim State.

The election was held peacefully in all seven States.

State Assembly members and chiefs and deputy chiefs of local levels had cast their votes from 10 am to 4 pm, the Election Commission informed.

According to ECN, there were 2056 voters. Of them, 550 are State Assembly members and 1,506 chiefs and deputy chiefs of local levels-- Gaunpalikas and municipalities.

The election was concluded in a peaceful manner, said Raj Kumar Shrestha, Joint-Secretary and spokesperson of ECN.

Total 99.22 per cent eligible voters cast their votes.

A total of 45 candidates were in the election fray.

Of the NA 19 members whose term is expiring on March 3, one member will be nominated by the President on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers.

Of the 59-member National Assembly members elected two years ago, 19 members have two years’ term, 20 have four years’ and the remaining have a full term of six years.