Election Commission proposes by-elections at local levels on December 1

Kathmandu / Sept 15: The Election Commission has proposed holding local-level by-elections on December 1. The commission officials, including Chief Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya, met with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and proposed holding by-elections in early December.

According to Thapaliya, Prime Minister Oli expressed the government’s readiness to proceed with the elections in accordance with the commission’s proposal and urged officials to begin preparations.

“We have proposed holding the by-elections on December 1, and the Prime Minister has instructed us to move forward with preparations,” he said.

Prime Minister Oli has reportedly assured that the upcoming Cabinet meeting would confirm the election date. The prime minister also called for creating an environment where the elections could be conducted in a cost-effective, free, fair, and peaceful manner.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal, and several other officials from the commission, including Chief Commissioner Thapaliya attended the meeting.

According to the commission, there are currently 41 vacant positions, including two District Coordination Committee chiefs; two chairs, four vice-chairs, 10 ward chairs of rural municipalities; one mayor, one deputy mayor, and 21 ward chairs of municipalities.

Earlier, the commission had conducted by-polls of the House of Representatives in Bara-2, Chitwan-2 and Tanahu 1 on April 23, 2023 and Ilam Constituency-2 on April 27, 2024. The provincial assembly election in Bajhang (A) was also held on April 27.