KATHMANDU: Chief Election Commissioner  Ayodhee Prasad Yadav has said the Election Commission doesn't operate under government's pressure and with political prejudice as it is governed by its own laws and regulations.

Addressing the orientation for the national election observers organised by the National Election Observation Committee (NEOC) here on Thursday, he argued that the decision taken by the Election Commission in connection with the local level election dispute in Bharatpur was right and nobody needed to debate it.

He emphasised on the need of moving ahead as per the Supreme Court's decision on the issue as this controversy has reached the Supreme Court now.

The Chief Election Commissioner stated that instructions have been issued for giving special priority to the senior citizens, people with disabilities and those visually impaired at every polling centre in the second phase of  local elections.

Former Vice President Paramananda Jha said he has got the responsibility of an observer in the second phase of local elections and that he would fulfill this responsibility in a free and impartial manner.

EC rapped for being helpless

NEOC president Surya Prasad Shrestha blamed the Election Commission for what he called being helpless in the Bharatpur local election fiasco. He said clean and fair election was not possible without the government's support.

Drawing the attention of all to the need of establishing an independent election system in the country, he suggested orienting the various political parties about the election and its integrity.

NEOC general secretary Gopal Krishna Shiwakoti presented a paper on the do's and don'ts of election observers, saying the observers have a crucial role in assessing the probity of the election.