At a meeting with members of the High Level Political Committee (HLPC) held at the EC’s central office on Saturday evening, EC officials maintained that there would be no point in announcing poll date until there is a favorable environment for polls.[break]
“EC can recommend a poll date to the government only after the government formulates election-related acts and creates environment favorable for election,” Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety told Republica after the meeting, adding, “There can be no polls if the environment is not favorable.”
The remarks of EC officials come a day after President Ram Baran Yadav expressed concerns over the delay in announcing date for Constituent Assembly (CA) polls with Chairman of the Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi.
Uprety stated that it might be possible to conduct polls by June if the ongoing obstructions by some political parties are removed. He maintained that the constitutional body cannot even proceed with voter registration without necessary acts. “Moreover, the home ministry should also distribute citizenship certificates as it is essential for voter registration,” he added.
According to knowledgeable sources, EC does not want to recommend poll date to the government in a hurry as the major four political forces -- UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML and United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) -- are not unanimous over holding CA polls by June 21 or by mid-December.
Sources said, at the Saturday’s meeting, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal maintained that CA polls can be held by June 21 while vice-chairman of the same party Narayankaji Shrestha ruled out the possibility.
NC leaders present at the meeting stated that EC should give a date for polls while CPN-UML stressed on holding free and fair elections. The source said Chairman of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Mahantha Thakur, who was also present at the meeting, did not put forth his views on poll date.
EC officials stated that they would have to compromise on fairness of elections and other technical aspects if polls are conducted in a hurry. “We must provide the candidates a month for publicity and EC should set up offices for returning officers two months before the polls,” an EC official said.
EC is likely to come up with its view on poll date by Monday. “Once the draft of election-related acts is forwarded to the government, we will come up with a view on poll date,” said the EC official.
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