Kathmandu, December 20:

Officials at the Election Commission say they are waiting for a formal and timely communication from the government on its decision to hold CA election by mid-April. But as the political deadlock continues, the interim parliament sits on a bill seeking constitutional amendment for the same and the government has yet to decide on a fresh date for the election.

“The Commission shall begin preparations once the government informs us of its election plan,” CEC Bhoj Raj Pokhrel told this daily today. “The EC needs an advance notice of at least three months and necessary laws to formally initiate preparations for the election. Or else, we cannot do anything.”

The EC has a lot to accomplish in a short time. “The EC cannot initiate preparations for the election if the government delays in enforcing the necessary Act three months before the election date has been set,” Pokhrel said. “What I have been time and again reiterating is that merely announcing the date for the election will not work,” he said.

He said the EC should inform the international observers four months prior to the poll date. The EC, however, will compromise on three months’ time to invite the observers considering the current national crisis.

The EC also needs time to update, print and disseminate poll-related documents, besides providing training and orientation to polling officers and electoral staff. Most importantly, the EC will have to introduce a training package to the polling officers if the electoral system is changed.