KATHMANDU: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya has emphasized the necessity of establishing internal democracy within political parties and maintaining governance to ensure the legitimacy of the election process.

Speaking at Sustainable Development and Good Governance Committee meeting of the National Assembly on Wednesday, Thapaliya expressed dissatisfaction with ongoing internal disputes and raised various concerns within political parties, emphasizing the need for internal democracy to be aligned with the principles of democratic governance.

“If internal democracy within political parties is not established and rules are not adhered to, grievances, disputes, and issues escalate, eventually reaching the Election Commission and the judiciary,” he remarked.

The Chief Election Commissioner expressed concerns about the practice of buying and selling votes among political parties and candidates during elections when voters are supposed to cast their votes based on their convictions rather than financial transactions.

He reiterated the importance of ensuring that the election system itself is not subject to corruption and that the Election Commission has no reservations about the cost of the election system.

Thapaliya also questioned the sincerity of political activists and candidates who encourage voting in the name of deceased individuals.

Thapaliya expressed the Commission’s desire for a female president or vice-president and urged political parties to prioritize issues that matter to voters when participating in democratic elections.

He further emphasized the need for politicians to uphold the values of democracy, contribute sincerely to the electoral process, and ensure the representation of individuals with disabilities in accordance with the constitution.