ECN to launch Local level Election Monitoring Directives-2017;  Madhes-centric parties urged to take part in election

Kathmandu / March 24: The Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) is going to launch the Local level Election Monitoring Directives-2017 to streamline the monitoring of the local level election scheduled to be held May 14 this year.

The Directives is currently being drafted and the Commission will launch it at the earliest, according to the Commission’s Spokesperson Surya Prasad Sharma.

The Local Level Election Code of Conduct for National Observers and Local Level Election Policy-2017 have been already issued by the Commission and the various organizations have been applying in the ECN for observation in the upcoming election.

Furthermore, the Voter Education Programme Implementation Directives-2073 has been issued as per the clause (44) of the Election Act-2073.

Transparency would be ensured in every process of the election except in the secret voting to make the election free, fair and impartial. The Commission will hold orientation and capacity building programme for the observation, it is stated.

Madhes-centric parties urged to take part in election

Meanwhile, leaders of various political parties have urged the agitating Madhes-centric political parties to take part in the local level elections scheduled for May 14.

They are also asked to happily become part of the polls instead of pressuring for postponing election date because their demand of constitution amendment could be settled addressed even after the elections.

They were speaking at a face-to-face programme organised by Reporters’ Club in the Capital on Friday.

On the occasion, Nepali Congress leader Dr Narayan Khadka viewed that Madhes-centric parties should be brought together at a time when main opposition CPN-UML has been positive about the polls, by amending some provisions of the constitution except for the demarcation of provincial boundaries.

UML standing committee member Shankar Pokharel, however, ruled out any possibility of amending the constitution under the same circumstances even if other issues except for the demarcation could be discussed.

He also called for the participation of as many as people and political parties in the elections.

Similarly, ruling CPN (Maoist Centre) leader Agni Prasad Sapkota claimed that a positive environment has been created for holding the polls with the participation of all including the disgruntled parties.

But, protesting Tarai-Madhes Sadhbhawana Party senior leader Ram Naresh Raya countered the argument of Sapkota, claiming that the polls could not take place until the demands of Madhesi community are met.

Also, former Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kanth Uprety pitched for holding the polls into two phases as it would be difficult to hold it at once in all places within the stipulated time. RSS