KATHMANDU, April 2: At a function today at the Election Commission (EC), Indian ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood handed over an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) to the secretary of the EC in the presence of the Chief Election Commissioner, Bhoj Raj Pokharel. The EVMs supplied by India are to be used in the April 10 by-elections to all six constituencies.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Sood said the supply of EVMs reflected India’s continued commitment to supporting the institutionalization of multi-party democracy in Nepal.
India had earlier supplied 200 EVMs and 600 additional ballot units for use in the CA polls. These had been used in a pilot project in Kathmandu constituency-1, the first time that electronic voting was used in Nepal. Based on its experience of using EVMs at that time, the EC had requested for similar assistance for the by-elections.
In addition to 470 new EVMs, 1,212 battery packs and 400 ballot units are being supplied by India. These EVMs will continue to be available for the EC’s use in the future. The total value of the equipment being supplied now is N.Rs 12 million. This is in addition to the earlier equipment supplied, which was worth over N.Rs. 9 million, and which are also being used for these by-elections. India has also extended technical assistance to help train EC officials in the use of EVMs.
Time to declare EVMs’ end
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