Employees already deputed at polling centres: CEC Yadav

KATHMANDU: Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav has said that employees have already been deputed with the required election materials in many districts with remote polling centres for the second round of local level elections scheduled for June 28.

Speaking at a face-to-face programme organised by Reporters Club Nepal here on Friday, he said, "Election symbols have been allocated to all the candidates. The voters identity cards would be distributed from June 25 and arrangements have been made for imparting voter education on the correct way of marking the election symbol on the ballot paper at the time of distribution of voter ID cards."

The Chief Election Commissioner reminded the candidates and the political parties to conduct their election campaigns within the parameters of the election code of conduct and urged the voters to participate in the polls without any fear for the government has ensured a reliable security arrangement for the elections.

Stating the Election Commission has arranged for monitoring at various stages to make the election free, fair and flawless, he asserted that the election environment is seen very positive and encouraging after the filing of nomination papers.

"It is expected that the second phase of local level elections is expected to set a new record as all the political parties and voters are going to participate. The election would not be affected in any way with the transfer of a secretary as the election process has already taken its course," he said, referring to the transfer on Thursday by the government of Election Commission secretary Gopinath Mainali to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

Fifteen thousand thirty-eight people's representatives would be elected through the second phase of local level polls taking place on June 28.

The election will be held at 334 local levels including one metropolitan city, seven sub-metropolitan cities, 111 municipalities and 215 rural municipalities.

According to the Election Commission, there are 6 million 432 thousand 765 voters and 4,581 voting centres and 8,364 polling stations. The Commission has deployed 66,900 employees for the elections, apart from the security personnel. 6 thousand 717 observers have been given permission for observing the second phase of local elections.