KATHMANDU, Oct 19: Election Commission on Wednesday assured the international community that the provincial and parliamentary elections will be conducted on the scheduled dates.
During an interaction organized by the commission at its headquarters in Kathmandu on Wednesday afternoon before the Supreme Court ruling on the writ petition over the ballot paper row, a representative from the German Embassy had asked EC officials whether the Supreme Court ruling would affect the elections.
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Responding to the concern, Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav assured the representatives of diplomatic missions and donor agencies that the commission is committed to holding the polls on the stipulated dates. Yadav further requested the international community representatives to visit polling centers to observe the polls. Stating that Nepal has been stepping forward toward peace and democracy, Yadav said that EC will ensure that the political parties and their candidates abide by the election code of conduct.
The diplomats had also expressed concern over high percent of invalid votes in the local polls and plans of the commission to reduce invalid votes in the upcoming polls.
Briefing the delegates on the overall preparations for the polls, EC, Spokesperson Nawaraj Dhakal informed that most of the preparations for both the polls have been completed. He further informed that the election is set to ensure greater representations of women, indigenous and ethnic communities and other backwards community in the state organs.
Envoys from Germany, Switzerland, France, Denmark, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and representatives from various donor agencies attended the interaction at the Election Commission head office in Kathmandu. Some representatives had asked about EC's policy for poll observation.
Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Shankar Das Bairagi appreciated the assistance and other help provided to the commission by various countries.
