EC consults former office-bearers on upcoming election

Kathmandu, Nov 10: The Election Commission has consulted its former office-bearers and former secretaries in view of the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives and the National Assembly.

The EC consulted them at its Kantipath-based central office today with an objective of learning past experience for conducting the coming elections in a free, fair and fear-free manner. 

A new government has been formed as per the aspiration of Gen Z protest and it is mandated to the HoR election on March 5. Similarly, NA election is taking place coming January 25 for 19 members. 

The meeting was chaired by Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari where commissioners-- Sagun Shumsher JB Rana and Dr Janaki Tuladhar, former chief election commissioners-- Surya Prasad Shrestha, Nil Kanth Upreti, Dolakh Bahadur Gurung, EC's former secretaries-- Madhu Regmi, Bharat Mani Subedi, Suresh Adhikari, and Rabi Raj Pant, among others were present. 

On the occasion, EC Secretary Mahadev Panth opined that the programme was organised with an objective of sharing experience about the role played to resolve problems and challenges surfaced in previous elections. Sharing that all the vacant posts at the EC offices across the country were fulfilled to hold the election on slated time, he mentioned that a meeting of security agency was also taking place, focusing election. 

"Knowledge and experience of former office-bearers is significant, for the experience inspires improvement and innovative thinking in election management. The coming election is the cornerstone of democratic practice, not only the constitutional obligation," he added. 

A total of 125 political parties have been registered at EC so far. Some parties are in the process of registration, EC shared. 

Panth viewed that important suggestions would be received from the discussion on the issues like the attention to be paid by EC to build a favourable environment for election and steps to be taken for effective implementation of election code of conduct. (RSS)