CEC asks parties to field women candidates in polls

Kathmandu / Apr. 20: The Election Commission of Nepal has urged the political parties to ensure women’s candidacy in all posts contesting in the May 14 local level elections.

“I, in person, request all political parties and their leaders to ensure women candidacy in all posts as far as possible,” said Chief EC Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav.

All people want a type of rural municipality and municipality led by women, said Yadav while speaking at a programme on the topic of ‘strengthening women’s leadership and representation’ organised in Kathmandu on Thursday by the EC with the financial aid from the United Nations Development Programme.

He also informed that the EC has prioritised deploying as many as women government employees for the polls.

“The printing of ballot papers for all districts will be complete until today evening. Printing voter’s lists and identity cards has already been completed. All election-related materials have been transported to respective districts,” he said.

Nepal’s Constitution has made it compulsory to ensure 40 per cent representation of women in local level elections — an increment from 33 per cent from the previous provisions.

Likewise, a provision says that a woman should take up the post of chief and deputy chief at local bodies.

Meanwhile on the occasion, Speaker Onsari Gharti viewed that the local polls are needed to enforce the Constitution that she said has accommodated women’s greater say.RSS