EC asks govt to enforce laws necessary for CA polls
The Election Commission (EC) has asked the government to immediately formulate laws necessary for holding constituent assembly election within the stipulated time.
Speaking at an interaction in the capital Sunday, Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokhrel said that for timely election preparations the EC needed legal instruments and the ‘election code of conduct’ with clear definition of its jurisdiction and responsibilities.
He said, “The government should promulgate five Acts, 14-15 separate directives and the code of conduct. We immediately need the Acts relating to voters’ list and the duties and rights of the commission.” Saying that the EC has been making internal preparations for CA polls, Pokhrel said the polls could be held by on time – mid-June 2007 – provided the government ensured necessary legal support.
According to him, 26,000 officials would be mobilised around the country to update the voters’ list and all district election offices would have officers by the end of December.
The government is yet to appoint more than two dozen district election chiefs.
The cost for the CA election will be rather high this time - an estimated Rs 2 billion - as the EC has to mobilise massive human resource within a short period of time, Pokhrel said. nepalnews.com mk Dec 24 06
