Kathmandu, October 8
Chief Election Commissioner Man Bahadur Karki has said the Election Commission is carrying out internal preparations for the upcoming local-level elections.
Speaking informally to a delegation from the National News Agency (RSS) at the Election Commission on Thursday, Karki said the commission was preparing for the elections, as it always remains ready for electoral processes.
“The government decides the election date. The commission is responsible for conducting the election fairly and without disputes on the date set by the government, and we are committed to that,” he said.
Asked about reports that the government was preparing to hold the local elections in March, Karki said the commission was not in a position to announce a date.
“The government announces the date in consultation with the Election Commission, in accordance with the constitutional provisions,” he said. “We are of the view that local governments should not remain vacant for a long period. Our preparations are being made accordingly.”
Karki said the elections would be held in accordance with the constitutional provisions, around the time the current terms of local governments expire in May 2027.
Asked whether the commission had begun preparations to hold local and provincial elections simultaneously, Karki said no decision had been made on that.
“Elections will be held in accordance with the constitutional and legal provisions. There are also practical considerations for us. Therefore, it cannot be said at this point that the elections will be held simultaneously,” he said. “We will work according to the date announced by the government.”
Karki also said the commission was ready to continue cooperating with RSS, noting its role in creating a positive and election-friendly environment during previous elections.
Election Commissioners Sagun Shumsher JB Rana and Dhruvaraj Wagle were also present during the discussion, which covered cooperation between the commission and RSS and other contemporary issues.
