Polls opened Sunday in Nepal for a historic round of provincial and parliamentary elections that many hope will bring the much-needed political stability to the Himalayan nation. Under the first round of elections, 3.19 million voters were choosing lawmakers amid tight security in 32 districts, mainly hilly and mountain regions in the northern part of the land-locked country. This is for the first time that elections for Parliament and provincial assemblies are being conducted under the new Constitution promulgated in September 2015.

A Nepali voter casts his vote at a polling station in Chautara. Pic/AFP