KATHMANDU, Feb 2: The Election Commission (EC) has proposed to the government to hold the local polls in one phase on May 18.

The commission has proposed a date for the second time. Earlier, the commission had proposed to hold the election on April 27 in one phase and on April 27 and May 5 if it could not be held in one phase. The commission has proposed a second date after the government delayed setting a date.

A team comprising the Chief Election Commissioner clarified to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba that the local level election should be held before May 18 as the term of the office-bearers of local-level would end on May 19. The commission has proposed to hold the elections in a single phase. 

The EC has also informed the Prime Minister that it was ready to hold elections as per the proposed date. 

The commission has informed the government that Rs 12 billion is required for the local elections and the expenditure will increase further if the elections are held in two phases. In the local elections of 2017, more than Rs 8 billion was spent. Local level elections were held in three phases on May 14, June 28 and September 18, 2017.

The five-party coalition has suggested the government hold the election in May after consulting with the Election Commission. As per the suggestion of the coalition, Prime Minister Deuba had a discussion with the officials of the commission on Tuesday.

EC Spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel said that the government has been proposed to hold the election on May 18 as the term of the previously elected people's representatives at the local level expires on May 19. The Commission has stated that it is the constitutional and legal responsibility of the government and the Election Commission to hold local level elections.

The commission usually needs 120 days for the arrangement of local level elections. The commission has informed the government that it is continuously compiling voters’ lists, reviewing and determining polling stations, making necessary preparations for holding the election and other activities targeting the election.

In a meeting with the officials of the commission, Prime Minister Deuba said that the necessary process would be taken forward to hold the local level elections in a single phase across the country on the date proposed by the commission. Prime Minister Deuba urged the Commission to make all necessary preparations for holding the election in a clean, free, fair and fearless environment and directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide necessary security.

Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya said that the election of the President, Vice-President, members of the Federal Parliament, members of the provincial assemblies and local level members should be held under Article 246 (1) of the Constitution subject to the Constitution and federal law. The government will fix the date in consultation with the commission. Thapaliya said that the government should take the advice, role and responsibilities of the commission in relation to the constitutional and legal system.

Thapaliya clarified that there was no alternative but to hold the election before the end of the term of the elected representatives at the local level. He clarified that no provision of the existing law is in conflict with the constitution to hold local level elections before May 18.

Although there is a legal provision that local level elections can be held in more than two phases, the commission has clarified that it has proposed holding the elections in one phase. The commission has informed the government that holding the election in one phase would facilitate the overall election management including security.

Thapaliya clarified that voter education, election campaign expenses, code of conduct period and other works would not be affected if voting was held in one phase. Chief Commissioner Thapaliya said that the election results in one place would not be affected in another place and monitoring and observation of the election would be easier.

In a meeting with Election Commission officials in Baluwatar on Tuesday, PM Deuba said that local elections would be held on May 18 and urged them to start preparations. 

 
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