The Election Commission (EC) last week wrote to the government, saying it must receive a report on constituency delimitation by July-end as it plans to hold provincial and national elections by November.

The country must hold the two elections by January next year as per the constitutional deadline. But the government’s indifference towards forming the Constituency Delimitation Commission (CDC) has stoked concerns whether the two elections could be held by January 21.

“We must get the report on constituency delimitation by July-end to ensure provincial polls in the second week of October,” said EC Spokesperson Surya Prasad Sharma. Provincial polls in October would make it easier for the EC to hold the national elections in November.

Once the CDC is formed, it is expected to take at least a couple of months to prepare the report, downsizing the existing 240 constituencies to 165.

“The delay in delimiting constituencies could hamper the polls,” said Sharma.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education Gopal Man Shrestha, who also looks after the Ministry for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, said the government currently is busy formulating election laws. “We are also in a hurry,” said Shrestha, without saying when the CDC would be set up.

If the EC fails to hold provincial polls in October, the entire poll cycle will be affected, which may trigger a constitutional crisis, as the incumbent Parliament’s term expires on January 21.