The Election Commission (EC) said on Thursday that it would be able to hold the second phase of local elections on June 14 only in 461 local units and that it would not be possible to conduct polls on the scheduled date if it were to adjust the 22 local units that have been recently added in 12 Tarai districts.

Citing time constraint, the poll body has also asked the government to help create conducive environment for holding the second phase of polls in 461 local units on June 14.

The government on Monday decided to add 22 local units in 12 Tarai districts in a bid to bring the agitating Madhes-based parties on board the poll process. 

With the increase in number, there are now 766 local units across the country. 

Voting to elect local representatives in 283 units of three provinces—3, 4 and 6—were held on May 14, and calendar for elections in remaining 461 units has already been published in the Nepal Gazette. 

With the increase in number of local units, voting on June 14 has to take place for 483 local units, and the EC has been saying it will be difficult to adjust the newly added 22 local units. 

In a press statement on Thursday, the poll body said it is prepared to conduct elections only for 461 units, implying that if voting has to be conducted by adjusting 22 new local units, it will fall short of its preparations. 

The EC has also said that it is yet to get the details on the added local units as to how many wards have been included in each of the added local units. 

While adding 22 local units in 12 Tarai districts, the government on Monday also made Birgunj and Biratnagar metropolises and upgraded 24 village councils as municipalities. 

Only after these details are provided can the EC prepare the voter list and set up polling centres before reprinting the voter roll which must reach the headquarters of each local unit by May 29—in four days. 

“It is technically impossible to do so,” the EC said.

The election body also made it clear that voter identity cards cannot be delivered to each polling centre by June 10 as they have to be reprinted in view of the new developments. “It now depends on the government and political parties how they are going to address the situation the EC is facing,” said EC Spokesperson Surya Sharma.