Government Prepares to Appoint Chief Election Commissioner

Kathmandu. The government has prepared to appoint a Chief Election Commissioner in the Election Commission. The Constitutional Council meeting to be held on Friday will discuss and make necessary decisions regarding recommendations for appointments in various constitutional bodies, informed Chief Opposition Party leader Bhishma Raj Angdembe. Accordingly, the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner will also be discussed in the meeting.

 The Election Commission has been without a Chief Election Commissioner for 14 months. It is understood that the government is now preparing to recommend a Chief Election Commissioner and another commissioner for appointment.

The previous Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya completed his 6-year term and retired on April 21, 2082 (Bikram Sambat), after which the commission has been running on the basis of acting commissioners.

After Thapaliya's retirement, senior commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari took charge as acting commissioner. Before Thapaliya, commissioner Ishwar Poudyal retired in February 2079 (Bikram Sambat).

Another commissioner has not been appointed in his place. Ram Prasad Bhandari successfully conducted the election on February 21 (Bikram Sambat) in his capacity as acting commissioner.

According to the constitution, the Election Commission is to have a maximum of 5 commissioners, including the chief. Currently, the commission has only acting Chief Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari, along with commissioners Janaki Tuladhar and Sagun Shamsher Rana.

Although there is a debate that the Election Commission can function with 3 commissioners in Nepal, past governments have appointed five commissioners to fulfill quotas. In the neighboring country India, elections are also conducted by 3 commissioners.