Although the Election Commission has proposed the date of 14th and 22nd of Baishakh for the local level election, the local level election is in confusion as the government has not decided on the election. The commission had met Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Poush 9 and proposed a date of 14 and 22 Baishakh instead of 14 Baishakh if possible, to hold the local elections at once.
However, the government has not given any opinion to the local level election commission
even two weeks after the commission proposed the date. As per the provisions of the Local
Level Election Act, 2073 BS, the term of office of the local level office bearers is coming to an end on 5 Jesth. Although Article 225 of the constitution states that the election must be held within six months of the end of the term of the local people’s representative, according to Article 3 of the Local Level Election Act, 2073, the election must be held two months before the end of the term.
The commission also said that it would be appropriate to hold elections in Baishakh as there is no clear legal provision regarding local level operations after the end of the term. However, the commission has reportedly come under pressure as per the constitution and election law as the government has not taken any decision to hold local elections on the recommendation of the team including the officials of the commission.
By Muna Chand
