CDC to be formed soon: Home minister

Kathmandu, July 5

Minister for Home Affairs Janardan Sharma today said that the government was in the final stage of forming Constituency Delimitation Commission, whose report is essential to hold provincial and parliamentary elections.

“The government is in the final stage of forming Constituency Delimitation Commission,” Minister Sharma told The Himalayan Times. He also said the government was serious about implementing the constitution by holding provincial and parliamentary elections by the constitutional deadline of January 21 next year.

The Election Commission yesterday wrote a formal letter to the government seeking CDC report within July 30.

A meeting of the EC office bearers, including Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhi Prasad Yadav, held yesterday also demanded announcement of dates for provincial and parliamentary elections and enactment of necessary laws.

Minister Sharma said the government would ask the commission to prepare its report within the timeframe given by the polls panel.

The government would also take necessary steps to pass the bills on provincial assembly, national assembly and parliamentary elections and change Electoral Rolls Act-2017 as demanded by the EC.

Election Commissioner Sudhir Kumar Shah said it was the responsibility of the government to create environment for the polls and to provide CDC report, enact laws and announce poll dates.

“We drew the prime minister’s attention and have sent a formal letter demanding CDC report, which is necessary to hold the elections,” said Commissioner Shah.

Earlier, the polls panel had suggested to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to hold provincial and parliamentary elections separately before December.

The EC said it had sent preliminary draft of the bills on provincial assembly election, national assembly election and the parliamentary election to the MoHA, which are yet to be passed from the Parliament.

The EC also reminded the government that it has limited time to update voter list as Section-4 of the Electoral Rolls Act-2017 barred it from including additional voters on the list after the declaration of poll dates.