Kathmandu: The Election Commission of Nepal has said that it is ready to hold local body elections after Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli visited the former and inquired about plans, preparations and challenges for holding it.
On June 16, the cabinet meeting made an ambitious decision to hold local elections by mid-December, Pradesh elections by mid-June 2017 and election of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly in November 2017.
Oli has yesterday enquired about preparations, saying that the election of local bodies should be held soon.
Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhi Prasad Yadav in response to Oli said that the EC needs 120 days for preparations and was ready for elections.
Yadav said the draft bills of the Political Parties Act, Political Parties Registration Act, Election Commission Act, Voters’ Registration Act, Election Offence and Punishment Act should be endorsed for elections to happen.
Oli was also informed that the EC needs to have a report of the Local Bodies Restructuring Commission for holding local elections.
Yadav said that EC had almost finalised the draft bill of Local Level Working Procedure Act and that should also be endorsed by parliament.
He also requested Oli to help endorse the EC’s reforms in relation to several issues, including provisions of financial transparency of parties, expenditure for elections and mandatory provision for parties to submit their annual reports, public funding, ensuring inclusiveness and the provision of threshold, among others. (ANI)