Commission starts election process in Nepal

{image-nepal Election chief_14012008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Kathmandu, Jan 14: The Election Commission of Nepal has published the calendar for the upcoming elections to the Constituent Assembly announced for April 10. Registration of the political parties would come to an end today and the process would be completed by January 29. The Office of the Election Officer would be established across the country by February 20 and the Election Officer deputed by the same date. The election programme for the proportionate system of elections would be published on February 11 and the political parties would have to submit the closed list of candidates before February 20.

Similarly, for the first-past-the-post system of election, the election programme would be published at the respective Office of the Election Officer by February 22 and the registration of the nomination papers be held on February 25 to be followed by the awarding of the election symbol on March 2, the Election Commission informed. Meanwhile, the election code of conduct issued in order to make the elections free and fair would be applicable to the Government of Nepal from January 16, to the parties from February 20, to the candidates from February 25 and to the private media from March 2, the state run media said.

The Commission has developed a mechanism to monitor the adherence of the code of conduct and has also called upon the international organisations to send observers to the elections. Notably, that the Commission has already appointed national observers.

Considering the weather-related and other obstructions, the Election Commission has already begun transporting the election-related materials to the Election Constituencies and accelerated management of insufficient materials.

The political parties in Nepal have agreed to hold the election of the Constituent assembly on April 10 that will write new constitution and institutionalise democratic system in the Himalayan nation ruled by the autocratic monarchs for nearly 240 years.

UNI