KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has clarified that the independent existence of the District Election Office would continue.

Making clear the issues raised by lawmakers of the opposition parties in the first meeting of the House of Representatives today, Finance Minister Mahat said the government would not deviate from the thinking that general people should participate in election in a free and fearless manner.

“We will not allow undermining the independence of the Election Commission. It is our resolve,” he shared.

The Finance Minister further said the initiative would be taken to make the District Election Offices more independent and effective and reiterated that the District Election Offices would not be dissolved.

Earlier, lawmakers of the CPN (UML) and Rastriya Swatantra Party had protested the proposal of bringing the District Election Office under the Office of the Chief District Officer.

The meeting was postponed for 15 minutes following the protest.

FM Mahat expressed commitment that the government would make all efforts not to allow any doubt on it as they are determined in favour of the independent existence of the Election Commission.

He said although conclusion was drawn to dissolve some of the offices for financial austerity, the word ‘dissolving’ of District Election Office was ‘unknowingly’ included in the budget statement.