KATMANDU, Jan 9: With the government dillydallying to announce provincial capitals, the Election Commission (EC) is in a fix over fixing polling locations for the National Assembly elections. 

Worried by the possibility of the protests spreading across the country if provincial capitals are fixed ahead of the NA elections, the government has not yet fixed the provincial capitals of seven provinces. 

The election body plans to fix the polling locations in seven provincial capitals for the National Assembly elections but the delay in part of the government has worried the election officials. 

"Since the government has not yet fixed the provincial capitals, it is not clear for us on how to move ahead," said EC Spokesperson Navaraj Dhakal, adding, "We will fix accessible places as polling locations even if the government fails to do so." 

The government has fixed February 7 as the poll date for upper house elections. Confused over the polling locations and other logistical preparations, the EC has not yet unveiled its plans for the upper house elections. Out of the total 59 members of the upper house, the elections will elect 56 members while the government itself will nominate the remaining three members. 

Chiefs and deputy chiefs of 753 local units and members of the provincial assemblies will elect the upper house through the single transferable voting system. So far, the EC has not officially announced the winners under the proportional representation category.

Also, members of the provincial assemblies elected under the first-past-the-post electoral system have not taken the oath of office and secrecy till date in the absence of governors. 
Governors administer the oath of office and secrecy to provincial assembly members. 

 
• ec
 
• fix
 
• na
 
• polling
 
• locations