KATHMANDU, July 9: The Parliamentary Hearings Special Committee (PHSC) has unanimously endorsed Dr Ayodhi Prasad Yadav as the next chief election commissioner.

Yadav will assume the post formally after he will be sworn in by President Bidya Devi Bhandari. As per the constitutional provision, president appoints the commissioners for the Election Commission once the committee endorses the nominees forwarded by the Constitutional Council.

The endorsement has come eight months after his nomination for the post by the Constitutional Council.  

The hearing on Yadav, who has been serving as an officiating chief election commissioner, was held at Singha Durbar on Friday.

During the hearing, as many as 15 committee members asked Yadav questions on his plans for ensuring free and fair elections, introducing electronic voting system, and implementing election code of conduct during his tenure as the chief election commissioner.

In December last year, the Constitutional Council, which is headed by the prime minister, had recommended officiating Chief Election Commissioner Yadav as the head of the Election Commission.

But the hearing on his appointment could not be held for eight months as major political parties disputed over the structure of the hearings special committee.

The committee was finally formed on June 20.

 The post of chief election commissioner had remained vacant since the retirement of Neel Kantha Uprety from the post.

He will serve as the chief election commissioner for the next three years. Although the full tenure of the chief election commissioner is for six years, Yadav will not enjoy the full term as he has already served as a commissioner for the past three years.

Yadav's major responsibility would be to hold elections for all the three levels--local, provincial and federal-- under the new federal setup by mid-January, 2018.    

During the hearing, Yadav said that the election commission was ready to hold local polls by mid-December if the government amends necessary laws, submit report of the commission on local bodies' numbers and demarcation, and give full shape to the election commission itself at least 120 days ahead of the local polls.

Currently, Yadav and Ila Sharma are the only two commissioners in the office. The posts of three commissioners still remain vacant.  

 "I am confident that I can serve well as the chief election commissioner. I want to assure you all that the elections under my leadership will be free and fair," Yadav said during the hearing, adding that the commission will carry out massive consultation with concerned stakeholders and formulate necessary regulations before holding any elections.

The hearings special committee is scheduled to decide on the nomination of acting Cheif Justice Sushila Karki on Sunday. However, the hearings on 22 ambassadorial nomination and 11 justices are still pending.

 
• parliamentary hearings special committee
 
• chief election commissioner
 
• dr ayodhi prasad yadav