Mid-term elections will cost Rs 8 billion, says EC

KATHMANDU: With the dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR), the Election Commission (EC) is making preparations for the mid-term elections scheduled for April 30 and May 10.

The EC has estimated that around Rs 8 billion will be required to hold the elections in two phases. The EC is prepared to hold the elections following the dissolution of the HoR, informed Dinesh Thapaliya, the Chief Election Commissioner.

“The EC is all set to hold the elections following the dissolution of the HoR. The EC will come up with a detailed elections work-plan including expenses soon,” said Thapaliya.

The EC needs 120 days for holding elections from the announced date of elections as per the international practice.  Prime Minister Oli on Sunday had directed the EC to get prepared for the EC.

According to the record maintained by the EC, Rs 7,759,441,000 had been spent to hold the federal and provincial elections in 2017.

The total expenditure incurred during the 2017 elections including on election publicity, voters’ education, security and materials required in the voting was put at Rs 30 billion.