In Nepal, polling is being held today for the first phase of Parliamentary and provincial elections. 37 constituencies of House of Representatives and 74 seats of Provincial Assemblies in 32 hilly and mountainous districts of northern Nepal are going to polls in this phase. The voting, which began at 7 in the morning, will continue till 5 in the evening.<br/><br/>Nepal-India and Nepal-China borders in the poll-bound districts have been sealed and elaborate security arrangements have been made to conduct free, fair and peaceful polls.<br/><br/>More than 31 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in this phase. There are 702 candidates in the fray, including former Prime Minister and Naya Shkati Party Nepal, Coordinator Baburam Bhattarai and former Deputy PM and Senior leader of CPN (Maoist Centre) Narayan Kaji Shrestha. International observers from various countries, including India and European Union, have been invited to monitor the elections.<br/><br/>Polling for the second and final phase will be held on the 7th of next month in the remaining 45 districts.<br/><br/>The elections are being seen as Nepal's final step to federal democracy and expected to bring much needed political stability in the country.<br/><br/>As per the new constitution of Nepal, local, province and parliament elections need to be completed by January 21st next year. Local elections have already been held.