Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Ayodhee Prasad Yadav has made it clear that the provincial and federal parliament elections cannot be held in one go.

“From the perspectives of voters’ list, management and constitution, it would not be possible to hold both the elections in one phase,” said Yadav speaking at a programme in Kathmandu on Saturday. “But the time gap between the two elections can be made shorter.”   

CEC Yadav said the parliament elections will be held after conducting provincial election as mentioned in the constitution. “It is necessary to hold provincial assembly election first as there is also the issue of women’s representation in national assembly,” he said.

Saying that there is constitutional obligation to conduct all three levels of elections—local, provincial and federal—by Jan 21, 2018, CEC Yadav said the election body has put forth its preliminary action plan for the same before the government. “We have demanded the government ensure the passage of necessary laws by Mid-July. It is necessary to delineate the constituencies of every state for the 165-member assembly by the end of July,” he noted.

Yadav hoped that the results of second phase local polls will be declared within the next three-four days.

He said that the EC has already sent election related programmes in 127 local units of Province 2 for the third phase of local polls slated for September 18.