EC says it cannot meet June deadline; requests govt to announce appropriate date
After months of cajoling, appealing and requesting the government and the parliament to expedite enactment of necessary electoral legislations and clarify political and security issues before it can proceed with the election timetable, the Election Commission (EC) has finally given up hopes that it can hold the polls on stipulated time.
At a press meet organised on Friday noon at Bahadur Bhawan, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Bhoj Raj Pokharel read out a letter the commission sent to the government on Thursday stating that it is technically impossible to hold the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections within the constitutionally mandated timeframe of mid-June.
"It normally takes EC 110 days to prepare for the elections once all legal systems (for the elections) are in place. Therefore, the Commission requests the Government of Nepal to soon announce date for the elections that will be appropriate for voters, candidates, political parties, election staffs and observers," reads the letter.
CEC Pokharel said that going for elections without addressing outstanding political issues related with election system and before stabilising security situation could further complicate the whole process.
In its letter, EC has written that for the elections to take place within mid-June, the offices of election officers must be set up within third week of April. However, since the tasks like updating voters' list and registering political parties cannot be completed before mid-May, it was impossible to set up election offices in the stipulated time.
The EC has informed that after the completion of enactment of all necessary electoral legislations, the Commission needs to formulate various rules and guidelines; produce materials for voters' education; train election staffs; formulate code of conduct; and procure, manage and deliver over 50 different items that will be required at the polling centers.
The letter by the EC was, on Friday morning, discussed by the cabinet and is also expected to be taken up by the meeting of eight parties scheduled later this afternoon. nepalnews.com sd Apr 13 07
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