KATHMANDU: The election process under the proportional representation (PR) system for the upcoming House of Representatives election will begin from December 6.
The Election Commission has started preparations after establishing the Office of Election Officer for proportional representation at the Commission’s Kantipath office from Sunday.
According to the approved election schedule, political parties wishing to participate under the PR system can submit their applications from 10:00 AM on December 7 until 4:00 PM on December 9. The list of political parties submitting applications will be published on December 10 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The candidate closed list will be submitted on December 28 to 29 and finalized on February 3.
Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari inaugurated the Office of Election Officer for proportional representation. Secretary Mahadev Panth has been appointed as the Election Officer, and Assistant Secretary Yagya Prasad Bhattarai as Assistant Election Officer. A total of 41 staff members will manage the proportional representation election process.
Bhandari said that representatives will be selected using a formula-based method, with support from the Central Bureau of Statistics, ensuring representation based on ethnicity, geography, and gender, which he said would maintain the trust of all stakeholders.
Under the current law, the 275 members of the House of Representatives will be elected through a mixed system of direct and proportional representation, 165 directly elected and 110 through PR. The nomination process for the first direct election is scheduled at the respective Election Officer’s office on January 20.
On Sunday, Finance Minister Rameshwor Prasad Khanal and Law Minister Anil Kumar Sinha met with the Acting Chief Election Commissioner and other commissioners to discuss pre-election preparations and government support required to ensure a smooth election process.
Comment