Parties laud voter registration, vow full support

KATHMANDU, June 14: Political parties on Tuesday lauded the ongoing voter registration with voters´ photographs and biometrics run by the Election Commission (EC), and pledged full support to make the campaign a success.



They termed the campaign to compile a new electoral roll a milestone in ensuring free, fair and credible elections in the country.[break]



Speaking at an interaction organized by the EC in the capital Tuesday to garner their support for the campaign and inform them of progress made so far in compiling the electoral roll, party representatives suggested the EC address the problems of those residing abroad who wish to take part in voting.



On the occasion, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal assured EC officials that his party would help in all possible ways to complete the campaign. ´´The success of this program will itself be the greatest achievement,´´ Dahal said, adding: “The new electoral roll will help conduct credible elections, thereby doing away with allegations that elections in developing countries are not fair.”



Nepali Congress Chief Whip Laxman Ghimire termed the ongoing voter registration a ´big stride´ toward free and fair elections in the country. “The EC must not deviate from its stance that citizenship certificates are mandatory for being registered in the electoral roll,” he said.



He also pledged the full support of his party for the voter registration process.



Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Nepal´s Arbinda Sah suggested the government and the EC think about the problems of those in the Tarai region who do not have citizenship certificates.



Rastriya Janamaorcha Chairman Chitra Bahadur KC and CPN-ML General Secretary CP Mainali said the government should develop a policy for ensuring voting rights for those living abroad.



The ruling CPN-UML and other major Madhes-based political parties were absent from the program.



Responding to queries and suggestions floated by political party leaders, Officiating Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety said the new electoral roll will help minimize fraudulent voting and reduce the costs involved in elections as data compiled by the EC can also be used for national identity cards. “Shortcomings and weaknesses seen in past elections would not be repeated as the EC has adopted the latest technology to do away with such shortcomings,” he said.



Uprety asked the government to resolve the problem of citizenship certificates as the EC is encountering problems in various parts of the country during voter registration.



The EC is launching a special 15-day program across the country beginning Wednesday to register the names of those living away from their homes.

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