KATHMANDU, March 18: The Election Commission (EC) has delayed its plan to print the ballot papers starting from Saturday, citing lack of internal preparations in arranging the election symbols for political parties and independent candidates, among other things. The ballots will now be printed a couple of days later.
"Some internal preparations, mainly arranging the election symbols for political parties and the sizes of the ballot papers, are yet to be finalized. That's why we could not begin printing the ballots from Saturday," said EC Spokesperson Surya Prasad Sharma.
Informed sourced at the EC, however, said printing the 15.5 million ballot papers was delayed because of last-ditch efforts to bring the agitating Madhes-centric parties on board the election process. Of late, the Madhes-centric parties, which have already withdrawn their support for the government, have been talking of boycotting the local elections if their demands are not addressed first.
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The Madhes-based parties have been demanding that the number of local units should be increased on the basis of population density, and the constitution amendment endorsed by parliament without further delay.
With the election date fast approaching and the political situation still polarized, Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal discussed how to overcome the potential challenges in holding the election successfully.
At a one-on-one meeting held at the PM's residence at Baluwatar, CEC Yadav reportedly suggested the latter to create a conducive environment and arrange foolproof security across the country. "I urged him to create an election-friendly environment and manage the security," Yadav told Republica.
In response, Dahal said he would do his best to support the election body in conducting the local polls within the stipulated date. "Go ahead, the government will support you fully in making the election a success," CEC Yadav quoted the prime minister as saying.
Immediately after meeting PM Dahal, election chief Yadav organized a meeting at the EC with the chiefs of the security agencies, together with the home and defense secretaries. During the meeting held in the presence of the other election commissioners, Home Secretary Lokdarshan Regmi presented a detailed security plan prepared in consultation with the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and Nepal Army. The home ministry and the security chiefs have singled out 20 districts of the southern region as 'extremely sensitive'.
The EC believes conducting the elections could be easier if the agitating forces are also brought on board. But the public is worried the delay in printing ballot papers may affect the May 14 polls.
The EC spokesperson, however, assured that a delay of two or three days will not make any difference. "Things are under control. This [delay] will not affect the elections at all and we are firm about conducting the elections within the given date," said Spokesperson Sharma.
