Registered candidates for elections have to leave former: Chief Thapliya

Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya, Chief Election Commissioner of the Election Commission (EC), has said that none of the candidates will retain their current position after running for the upcoming parliamentary elections. The meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Thursday decided to hold parliamentary elections on the 20th of November.

Chief Thapaliya informed on a press conference held at the EC on Thursday that candidates will register their candidacy right after Dashain. He made it clear that the commission is not the body to review the tenure of the elected members of the House of Representatives and clarified that their tenure will end on December 7, since they were elected in the last election.

It has been said that the announcement of the next election date is not accidental but expected. He said that the remaining 107 days for the election, EC will gather for the special preparation of the election.

He informed that the commission is already preparing to conduct the elections peacefully.

He said that the Commission will take the concept of equal opportunity and equal playing field in the election.

In this year's election, voting arrangements will be made for employees, security personnel, inmates and senior citizens.

It has been said that in this year's election, there will be 2 ballot papers and different ballot boxes, so it will not be as complicated as in the previous local elections.

The commission is going to update the voter list from Friday. Similarly, the necessary process for the proportional election will start from Sunday.

The chief commissioner informed that a letter has been sent to the allies and donor agencies to help the Election Commission with necessary election equipment and vehicles. He said that support can also be taken in voter education.

A separate press office will be opened in the Election Commission to facilitate the flow of information in the upcoming elections.

The commission is going to publish the voter education bill soon.

In this year's election, the commission expects about one million more voters than in the previous election. The commission has estimated that 18.5 million voters will turn out for this election.