The government's decision to increase the number of local units by 22 in Tarai has put the Election Commission (EC) in an uncomfortable position as it was preparing for holding the second phase of local polls on June 14.

A Cabinet meeting on Monday decided to add local units in Sunsari, Saptari, Rautahat, Parsa, Dhanusa, Sarlahi, Bara, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kavilvastu, Kailali and Banke.

Likewise, 24 village councils of Jhapa, Siraha, Rautahat, Dhanusa, Bara, Rupandehi, Banke, Kailali and Mahottari have been promoted to municipalities.  The government has elevated Biratnagar and Birgunj as Metropolitan City. 

With just 10 days to go for nomination of candidates for the second phase of polls on June 2, the government's decision has put enormous pressure on the election body as it has to print voter's list, voter identity cards and should also adjust polling centres. These tasks need to be completed before the nomination date of June 2.

"Holding elections on June 14 by adjusting the added local units is extremely challenging," said Election Commissioner Ila Sharma. "A scheduled meeting of EC on Tuesday evening may make public its opinion."

She said that the meeting would look into both political and technical aspects of adjustment of added local units. "We will also take the view of our technical team into consideration," she told the Post.

With Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development working on the exact boundary of the newly created local units, the EC officials said that it is not sure how long it would take to adjust the new local units into the EC's system has not been sure.

According to EC officials, the addition of local units not only forces the EC to adjust voters' identity cards and voters ' list in newly created local units but in the local units from where they were taken out.

"How can we do it when counting of first phase is still not over and nomination date for second phase of elections in just 10 days ahead?" asked Election Commissioner Sudhir Shah.

Following the addition of local units, the next phase of elections should take place in 483 local units in provinces 1, 2, 5 and 7 instead of 461.

EC officials fear whether new local units have been created by splitting several local units and whether even a single ward has been divided into a part of different local units. They said it will complicate the adjustment process. "Technically, I do not find it feasible to hold elections on June 14 with the adjustment of added local units," said Narendra Dahal, another commissioner of EC. "The time to be taken by adjustment process will make it impossible to hold local polls in slated date."

On April 23, EC had asked Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to increase local units if it is required within seven days. Amid political differences over increment of local units as well as constitution amendment, the government failed to increase the number of local units.

"The EC has been forced to take stress for political parties failing to reach political consensus in time," said Shah.