The first phase of local polls conducted on Sunday remained largely peaceful except for few reports of clashes amid tight security with an initial estimation of 73 percent voter turnout.

The voting that began at 7 this morning in almost all of a total 18,438 polling centres across the country concluded at 5 this evening. 

Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav thanked the voters for the overwhelming participation in the local polls. "The first phase of local polls have concluded in a peaceful manner," said Yadav at a press meet organised at the Election Commission in Kathmandu on Sunday evening.

He informed that the elections were conducted in only 281 of the total 283 local units as the candidates were elected unopposed in Narfu Village Council of Manang district and Shey Phoksundo Village Council of Dolpa district.

The voter turnout has been estimated at close to 73 percent according to preliminary reports received from the 34 districts where the elections were conducted, said CEC Yadav. He expressed his confidence that the enthusiastic participation of voters from all walks of life including youth, visually impaired and differently-abled in today’s election will encourage the voters during the second phase elections on June 14. 

Photos by Kathmandu Post Photography Team