At a function organized at the EC office, four Madhes-based parties -- Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum Nepal, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (Loktantrik), Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) and Sadbhawana Party -- demanded that citizenship should not only be made the basis for voters´ registration.[break]
Shyam Sundar Sharma, joint-secretary at the EC, said, “The parties raised collective voices saying that EC should also take into consideration other forms of identification as per Clause 11 of the Electoral Rolls Act 2006 for voters´ registration.”
The Act states, “…the Enrollment Officer may ask the concerned person or his or her family to submit the citizenship certificate, land ownership certificate or any identity card issued by a government office, local body, government owned organization or educational institute, seeking out his or her date of birth or age or place of his or her residence.”
“We urged the EC that it should not only make citizenship certificates as the basis for voters´ registration,” said Govinda Chaudhari, general secretary of TMDP.
“Recommendations from Village Development Committees should also be taken as a basis for registration in the voters´ list.”
However, EC reiterated that no other identification documents will be made a basis for registration of voters.
“Though there is a provision in the act, it remains under the sole discretion of the EC to select the type of identification certificates,” said Sharma.
EC has registered over one million voters in its new listing so far.
Federal Limbuwan State Council leaders urged the EC to stall the ongoing voters´ registration process stating that the work should be undertaken only after constitution is drafted and the country becomes a federal republic.
Spokesperson for EC Rajendra Sharma said EC had taken note of all the suggestions and grievances and that it would look into the matter. “We will discuss the issues in our next meeting,” he said, adding, “EC may postpone the registration process in those places where it has been stalled.”
Limbuwan seizes EC´s documents
DHARAN, Oct 31: Federal Limbuwan State Council on Sunday seized the EC´s documents here saying EC had given continuity to voters´ registration process against the agreement reached with it.
Sunsari district secretary of the council Bhim Idhingho claimed,“ The EC had said that it would will stall the process till Sunday,” Idhingho said. “We had an agreement to resolve the dispute through multi-party talks.”
EC´s Sunsari district Chief Aswin Koirala admitted that the council obstructed the voters´ registration process and hoped central-level meeting would help resolve the dispute.
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