‘Don’t introduce any program in upcoming budget to influence mid-term polls’

Published On: May 27, 2021 01:29 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

From Left: Former chief election commissioners Surya Prasad Shrestha, Bhoj Raj Pokharel, Nilkantha Upreti, Dr Ayodhi Prasad Yadav and acting chief commissioner Dolakh Bahadur Gurung

KATHMANDU, May 27: Five former chief election commissioners have drawn the attention of the government not to introduce any program in the upcoming annual budget which can influence the mid-term polls scheduled for November this year.

Issuing a public statement on Thursday, former chief election commissioners Surya Prasad Shrestha, Bhoj Raj Pokharel, Nilkantha Upreti, Dr Ayodhi Prasad Yadav and acting chief commissioner Dolakh Bahadur Gurung urged the caretaker government not to introduce any program aimed at influencing the voters.

“The incumbent caretaker government, which is supposed to hold the elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) in November, should not introduce any new policy program or budget to influence the voters. The government should abide by the principle of equal competition for free and fair elections,” reads the statement.

The Ministry of Finance is unveiling the annual budget for the fiscal year 2021/22 on Saturday through an ordinance.

The government has announced the snap-polls for November 12 and 19 after President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the lower house of parliament on May 22.