Govt should take necessary decision at earliest to hold local-level elections in April: EC

KATHMANDU, Jan 14: The Election Commission (EC) has said that the government should take necessary decisions at the earliest to hold the local-level election in April. 

Office bearers of the poll body, during an all-party meeting held on Friday, said that a time frame of 120 days is required to carry out preparatory tasks before holding any election. 

During the meeting, the commission also proposed holding the local-level elections in two phases --- first on April 27 and the other on May 5. 

Speaking on the occasion, a Nepali Congress leader, Ramesh Lekhak said that the government is ready to hold the elections. “However, some electoral acts are to be amended which could not be done owing to continued House obstruction by main opposition CPN-UML.” 

Vishnu Rimal, deputy general secretary of the UML, however, insisted that the elections can be held under the prevailing laws. He also added that his party is of the view that the elections should be held before mid-May.