KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has called officials of the Election Commission (EC) to discuss the local level election.
EC officials, including Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Thapaliya, have been called at 3 pm Tuesday in Baluwatar, according to a source in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.
A meeting of the ruling coalition on Saturday had decided to hold local elections by mid-June and the government was to set a date after holding discussions with the EC. Following Saturday’s understanding, Prime Minister Deuba is holding discussions with EC officials for the first time.
The EC had been urging the government to set the local-level election date at the earliest.
Prior to Saturday, understanding among the coalition partners was fragile on holding the local level election. The CPN-Maoist Center and CPN-Unified Socialist were for deferring the election that should be held by mid-April — 120 days before the term of local level representatives expires.
Amid differences with partners and following Saturday’s ruling coalition meet, PM Deuba has made up his mind to hold local level elections in coming May while also indicating that the United States grant Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) would be put to vote in parliament before that.
Speaking with Bagmati Province Nepali Congress office-bearers today, PM Deuba disclosed that the government could likely set May 18 for the local level election. “The local level elections will be held on May 18,” he said at the meeting. The prime minister also exuded confidence on the passage of MCC, an NC leader informed.
PM Deuba also urged NC leaders and cadres to intensify the election campaign at the meeting.
Meanwhile, PM Deuba is holding a discussion with EC officials at 3 pm today.
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