Rejected by Parties, Recruited by EC; Nine Women Returning Officers in Kathmandu 

Sabika Shrestha

Nine of the ten election constituencies in Nepal’s federal capital Kathmandu will be headed by women overseeing the March 5 House of Representatives elections.

Though political parties turned indifferent towards nominating women under first past the post system, the election commission under the recommendation of the judicial service commission, has appointed nine women returning officers in Kathmandu.

Amid much hue and cry over meager women candidates in the March 5 House of Representatives election, the Election Commission has handed the command of federal capital to women returning officers.

The political parties turned cold shoulder in implementing the spirit of the constitution while selecting candidates under first past the post system by only nominating 11.34 percentage women as candidates.

Nine of the returning officers in federal capital Kathmandu, that has the highest number of 10 election constituencies, are women.

The commission, on the recommendation of judicial service commission, has appointed the judges in all 77 districts as the chief returning officers for the March 5 election while 88 second class gazetted officers in judicial service have been given the responsibility of returning officer.

In Kathmandu, Deputy Attorney General Shanti Neupane is overseeing Constituency No. 2. Krishna Bhandari, Deputy Attorney in Patan, is heading Kathmandu–4, while Under-Secretary Shradha Rijal from the Ministry of Law, is in charge of Kathmandu–5 and Chapala Pokharel is leading the election in Kathmandu 6.

Likewise, Savita Sharma (Kathmandu–7), Smarana Khanal (Kathmandu–8), Menuka Ghimire (Kathmandu–9), and Supreme Court Deputy Registrar Amrita Kumari Sharma is leading this time in (Kathmandu–10).

The Election Commission’s decision to entrust women with the majority of election management responsibilities in Kathmandu is being viewed as a reflection of growing institutional confidence in women’s leadership.

The chief returning officers and returning officers have already started their role from January 9 in designated offices.

The women are excited to have been entrusted the job and say these are exciting moments when the country itself has its first women Prime Minister.

Deputy Attorney Chapala Pokharel who leads the election in Kathmandu 6 as the returning officer says it’s a sign that gradually women are also assuming offices where they can handle issues including the national election.  

The move also resonates with the demands raised by the Gen Z movement, which has consistently called for inclusive participation, shared ownership, and accountability across state institutions.

As the March 5 polls approach, the woman-led election management in Kathmandu sends a strong message: women are not only capable of safeguarding democracy but are increasingly shaping it.