KATHMANDU, JANUARY 2

The Election Commission has recommended to the government that it fix February 8 as the date for holding by-election to the vacant post of a member of the National Assembly, the upper house of the Federal Parliament.

The EC submitted the recommendation 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.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane and Government Chief Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi were also present at the meeting.

Discussions were held on the by-election to fill vacant posts of member of National Assembly, president and vice-president and an integrated election law, among other contemporary topics.

CEC Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya shared that the by-election to fill a vacant post of member of National Assembly had to be conducted as the resignation tendered from his post by Khimlal Bhattarai (other cluster) who was elected to the upper house from Lumbini Province was accepted on 9 October 2022 and the post had fallen vacant. He further said, 'The election to fill in vacant president berth has to be held before March 12 as the term of the incumbent president will be terminated on that date and the election to fill in vacant vice-president berth has to be concluded within 15 days of the date of the presidential election.'

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

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

He made it clear that the government was ready to provide necessary support, coordination and facilitation for election to the post of president and the 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 was preparing to mobilise financial support required for the upcoming elections.

DPM and Home Minister Lamichhane assured cooperation on behalf of his ministry as the EC's liaison Ministry.

A version of this article appears in the print on January 3, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.