The Election Commission (EC) has said canvassing for municipal polls slated on Wednesday in the municipalities across the country will come to an end on Sunday mid-night.

The EC’s reminder came as most of the candidates – both independent as well as affiliated to fringe parties—largely stayed away from door to door canvassing mainly due to security threats. At least three people have been shot dead by the CPN (Maoist) rebels and injured one candidate in Lalitpur over the last few days.

The Home Ministry announced Sunday that all the government offices will remain closed on the polling day on Wednesday (Feb. 8) in the districts that have municipalities.

Perhaps this is the first time that local polls have divided the country sharply. Major political parties and the CPN (Maoist) have called for boycott of the polls. Royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and newly launched Rastriya Janashakti Party (RPP) have also announced that they are not going to take part in the polls.

The RPP faction led by Home Minister Kamal Thapa and a few political outfits launched by ministers in the royal cabinet said their candidates are contesting for the civic polls.

According to the EC, out of 4,000 seats in 58 municipalities, voting will take place for over 600 seats. Most of the remaining seats have either remained vacant or candidates have been elected unopposed to them.

A hotelier at Kantipath, Akash KC, told Nepalnews that he was not going to cast vote on Wednesday. “Nobody has approached me seeking for my vote so far,” said KC. “Local elections used to be a fun-filled event in the past. But this time around you will have to face persoanl risks and ‘social boycott’ if you choose to vote a person whom you have never met,” he added.