However, Madhes-based parties have objected the EC´s decision to resume the process. On previous occasion too, the EC´s much hyped project was suspended following the objection from Madhes-based parties. They were of the view that the EC´s stand on having compulsory citizenship for registration could prevent a large number of people from voting rights. [break]
The EC decided to resume the process following a Supreme Court (SC)´s interim order that gave a nod to the agency to carry on with the registration drive based on the compulsory citizenship.
"The interim order issued by the SC allows us to continue collecting and compiling the electoral roll on the basis of well accepted identification document, the citizenship," Officiating Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety told Republica.
Meanwhile, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Chief Whip Brijesh Kumar Gupta has threatened that his party would launch protest against the move. "SC has breached the law. It should have otherwise upheld the EC´s earlier decision to consider alternative forms of identifications," he told Republica.
Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (Democratic) Chief Whip Ramjanam Chaudhary, likewise, said the party will protest the EC´s move as it has done on earlier occasion. Madhesi People´s Rights Forum, Nepal Vice-chairman Jaya Prakash Gupta said the party as such has no protest programs on anvil. However, expressing dissatisfaction over the SC´s decision he said the apex body took the issue of electoral roll purely as a legal one and that it failed to consider common people´s sentiments regarding their rights to vote.
Sadbhawana Party General Secretary Anil Kumar Jha said, "Eligible candidates whose parents name have been listed on earlier occasions must be included in the new process."
The SC´s final verdict, however, is still awaited. Asked how the EC would proceed if SC´s final verdict did not coincide with its interim order, Uprety added, "We have been insisting and making clear to all that the voter registration process is open all year round. No genuine voter will be deprived of getting themselves registered in the new electoral roll. We will respect the final verdict of the SC."
The EC is resuming voter registration process in 43 districts. "Nearly 2,000 staffs will be deployed for the purpose," informed Rajendra Sharma, spokesperson of the EC. "We will complete the process gradually." The EC has already issued public notice through state own mass media for the second phase of registration process.
The single bench of SC Justice Prakash Wasti had paved the way for EC to move ahead by allowing the agency to include voters in the new electoral roll only with the documentary evidence of their citizenship. "We won´t accept documents other than Nepali citizenship during the registration process," EC´s Joint Secretary Shyam Sundar Sharma told Republica.
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