KATHMANDU: A total of 85 candidates named in different political parties’ closed list in the proportional representation (PR) electoral system for the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) polls withdrew their names on Monday.

According to the Election Commission (EC), the candidates included in the closed list submitted by the political parties on December 28 and 29 withdrew their names as per the deadline set for Monday.

The EC stated that 21 candidates of Janata Samajwadi Party and 20 candidates of Janamat party withdrew their names from the closed list of the PR electoral system.

Likewise, the candidates of CPN (UML), Nepali Communist Party, Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party also withdrew their names.

The Janata Samajwadi Party and Loktantrik Samajwadi Party withdrew some of the candidates’ names for the fresh management in the list following the two parties’ merger.

The EC has stated that there could be slight changes in the parties’ closed list in the final announcement of the candidates’ closed list.

The closed list will be made public on January 18 for any protests or claims, which will be investigated and the final list shall be published on February 3.

A total of 64 political parties had submitted their closed list in the EC for the HoR elections scheduled for March 5. Out of 64 political parties, 54 political parties are using their own election symbols while remaining 10 parties would use a common election symbol.

Of the total 275 seats, 110 MPs will be elected from the PR electoral system while 165 MPs will be elected from the first past the post electoral system.

A total of 93 political parties had filed applications in the EC to file candidacy under PR system. The EC had given time to the political parties from January 5-11 to make corrections after investigating the closed lists of the parties on January 4.