The Election Commission has urged Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to fix the date for local elections arguing that the polls would help local development and reconstruction of the quake-damaged infrastructure.

In a meeting with PM Oli on Thursday, Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav drew the government’s attention to holding the long-delayed polls of the local bodies.

“Local elections will not only help local development but also reconstruction of quake-damaged infrastructure. So we urge you to create an environment conducive to this,” an EC delegation told PM Oli.

Local bodies have been without elected people’s representatives for more than 13 years with the government failing to conduct periodic elections. The EC said it was firm on holding the polls if the government fixed the date. The prime minister was also urged to make the voter ID card mandatory.

The PM is said to have responded positively to the call. Assuring law amendment, the prime minister asked the commission to begin its preparations, the EC said in a statement.

During the meeting, Commissioner Ila Sharma called for mandating the EC to declare election dates.