EC suggests holding NA by-election on Feb 8

The Election Commission (EC) has recommended to the government to fix February 8 as the date for holding the by-election to the one vacant post of the Member of the National Assembly, the upper house of the Federal Parliament.

The EC submitted the counsel in writing to the government today in line with the provision of holding the by-election of the National Assembly on the date determined by the government.

EC officials, including the Chief Election Commissioner, gave this advice to the government today in a meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'.   

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane, and Government Chief Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi were also present in the meeting.

In the meeting, discussions were held on the by-election to the vacant post of Member of the National Assembly, election to the post of President and Vice President, and integrated election law, among other contemporary topics.

CEC Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya expressed that the by-election to one vacant post of Member of the National Assembly had to be conducted as the resignation tendered from his post by Khimlal Bhattarai (other clusters) who was elected to the upper house from Lumbini Province was accepted on October 9, 2022, and the post had fallen vacant, that the election to the post of President has to be held before coming March 12 as the term of the incumbent President terminated on that date and the election to the post of Vice President had to be held as it is required that the election to the post of Vice President should conclude within 15 days of the date of the election to the post of President.

EC spokesperson Shaligram Poudyal said the meeting was also informed that the EC is preparing to present, through the government, the draft of the Integrated Election Laws that it has drafted in the first session of the Federal Parliament.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Dahal thanked the Election Commission for conducting in a free, fair, and fearless environment the local level election on May 13 and the election to the Member of House of Representatives and National Assembly on November 20, 2022.

He made it clear that the government was ready to provide the necessary support, coordination, and facilitation for the election to the post of President and Vice President as proposed by the EC and to forward the Integrated Election Laws.
In this connection, DPM and Finance Minister Poudel said the Ministry of Finance is prepared to mobilize the financial support required for the upcoming elections.

DPM and Home Minister Lamichhane assured of all the cooperation on behalf of his Ministry as the EC's liaison Ministry.
Election commissioners Ishwori Prasad Poudyal, Ram Prasad Bhandari, Dr. Janaki Kumari Tuladhar, and EC Secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi were also present in the meeting.