Directive to depute employees at local level by March 16; EC sets expenditure ceiling for local polls candidates

Kathmandu / March 11: The Election Commission has directed the government to arrange deployment of employees to the newly-designated local levels by March 16.

The Commission issued the directive to the Ministry of General Administration and Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development to make necessary arrangement of employees for local units on mutual coordination.

A meeting of the office-bearers of the EC held on Saturday instructed the government to deploy employees required for all 744 local units.

Likewise, the EC also directed the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development to keep abreast the EC about the arrangement of employees at all local levels at the earliest possible.

The meeting directed the government to not depute employees in any training during the election period in a way it would affect the deployment of employees.

EC sets expenditure ceiling for local polls candidates

Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Saturday has set upper limit of expenses for candidates of local polls scheduled for May 14.

As per the limit, candidate for the member of the District Coordination Committee could spend up to Rs 150,000, which is the lowest ceiling, in comparison to other local polls candidates. The candidate for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Metropolitan City could make poll expenses up to Rs 750,000, said EC Spokesperson, Surya Prasad Shrestha.

Similarly, Ward Chairperson of the Metropolis is not allowed to exceed expenses of Rs 300,000 while candidate of Mayor and Deputy-Mayor of Sub-Metropolis is allowed to spend up to Rs 550,000 in the election campaign.

The criteria set out by the EC in view of local election has permitted candidate of Mayor and Deputy-Mayor of Municipality Rs 450,000 .

Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Village Body could expend up to Rs 350,000 and, accordingly, the Ward Chairperson could not spend more than Rs 150,000, as per the expenditure ceiling.

The EC has fixed the poll expenditure ceiling up to Rs 250,000 to Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the District Coordination Committee. RSS