In the wake of serious security concerns and active boycott of the opposition political parties, a significant number of municipal seats remain without candidates for the February 8 polls while 22 mayors and deputy mayors have been elected unopposed.

The Election Commission (EC) Sunday said 22 mayors and deputy mayors elected unopposed received certificates from the concerned election offices as the specified time for publishing the final name list of candidates ended at 5:00 p.m. today.

The 22 mayors and deputy mayors elected unopposed are from Ilam, Damak, Bhimeshwor, Bahktapur, Banepa, Panauti, Dhulikhel, Ratnanagar, Prithvinarayan, Vyas, Waling, Tansen, Birendranagar, Nepalgunj, Gulariya, Dipayal, Ramgram and Butwal municipalities. Likewise, mayors and deputy mayors have been elected in Kapilvastu, Baglung, Dasarathchand and Amargadi municipalities also, spokesman of the commission, Tej Muni Bajracharya, said.

Over 600 candidates cancelled their nominations citing security threats while no nominations were filed in hundreds of municipal posts. Many of them accused the government of forcing them to file candidacies.

Election is talking place in 58 municipalities, including the Kathmandu Metropolitan City and four sub-metros in 43 districts on February 8.

Except for Nepal Sadbhawana Party led by local development minister Badri Prasad Mandal, no national political parties have registered at the EC for election purposes.