KATHMANDU:  The Election Commission (EC) has geared up for the preparations of the local level elections.

In a meeting with the officials of the EC held in Baluwatar on Monday, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said that the government would fix the date of the local elections following consultation with the ruling coalition and other political parties.

The first phase of local elections had been held on May 14, 2017. According to the provision, the tenure of the elected body of the local bodies begins five days of the election.  Hence, the tenure of the elected representatives is expiring on May 19, 2022.

The elections have to be held two months before the expiry of the term as per the Section 3 of the Local Level Election Act, 2073.  The local level elections have to be held by March 19, 2022 as per the provision.

The local level elections had been held in three phases in 2017. The government is under compulsion to fix date based on the May 14, 2017 when the first phase of local polls had been held.