National
Govt urged to hold local body election
Lawmakers, former local body representatives and civil servants have asked the government to hold local elections at the earliestSpeaking at an interaction organised by Nepal Law Society in the Capital on Friday, lawmakers said they will inquire Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and other concerned minister on why the elections were delayed.
Before electing Koirala to the prime ministerial post in February last year, Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML had reached an understanding to hold election of the local bodies within six months. Local bodies in the country are without elected representatives since 2002.
“I don’t know why the government is not committed to hold the local elections though all legal and technical aspects of the election are ready,”
said Rabindra Adhikari, chairman of the Parliamentary Development Committee. The Election Commission and the concerned line ministry have already prepared separate drafts to amend the existing laws for the local elections. “Though differences remain in adjusting representation ratio of women, indigenous nationalities and marginalised community, legal hurdles could be settled once the Parliament’s winter session begins,” said an official with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development.
The Election Commission has proposed to field at least 50 percent female candidates in the local polls while the ministry has proposed to ensure representation of women to be at 40 percent.
Stating that they are under pressure from the donor agencies, the ministry’s Joint-secretary Reshmi Raj Pandey said, “They warn of cutting aid when media report corruption-related issues.”
UCPN (Maoist) leader Khim Lal Devkota said parties should be convinced that local election will not affect federalism.