Hold polls together
The Himalayan Times
10 August 2017
Hold polls
together
Time
has come for the government to be serious in holding the third phase of local
polls in Province 2 scheduled for
September 18 and the other two tiers of elections- provincial and parliamentary-
by January 21, 2018. If it fails to complete these tasks on time, the nation
will plunge into political and constitutional crisis. The new constitution says
that all kinds of elections should be held before January 21. Looking at the
ongoing political scenario, it is a tough job for the Deuba led government. When
there was ample time to implement these tasks, all the previous governments and
the major political parties were busy in power struggling for the sake of their
own political gains. Now, the time is running out from their hands and the
government and the major political seem panicking now talking about holding the
provincial and parliamentary election together “Hold provincial, parliamentary
polls together, PM tells EC” (THT, August 8, Page 1).
In
the mean time, the EC has advised the government to use Electronic Voting
Machines (EVMs) for the upcoming two tiers of elections. It is yet be decided
by the government whether to go for EVMs or continue using ballot papers. It
was also good to know that the EC has reminded PM to incorporate the provision of
‘None of the above’ (NOTA) in the election related bills. The Supreme Court
(SC) had already instructed the government to incorporate NOTA in the election
related bills. This provision will provide the voters to use their rights to reject
the party or the candidates. It was also interesting to know that the EC had recommended
PM to grant EC power to do the needful to ensure voting rights of Nepalis
living abroad.
By
holding the two tiers of elections together, the state will save elections
related expenditures and ensure the meeting of constitutional deadline to hold
all the elections by January 21, 2018. Accordingly, the EC has asked the
government to announce date for holding provincial and parliamentary elections
on or before August 17 so that it will have enough time for its preparations.
Rai Biren
Bangdel
Maharajgunj
http://epaper.thehimalayantimes.com/textview_3351_3610_4_1_8_10-08-2017_71_0.html
