Kathmandu, July 25:

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Bhoj Raj Pokhrel today warned ministers that it will be difficult to hold the constituent assembly elections in the Tarai without improving the security situation there.

“We have observed a certain security trend in a few districts in the Tarai. It will be difficult to hold the elections there if this trend continues,” Pokhrel said at a consultative discussion on Election Code of Conduct (ECC) at the Election Commission (EC). Pokhrel told the ministers to fill vacant positions in the civil service and corporations to make the implementation of the ECC possible. Stating that the EC has prepared indicators to check whether security situation is favourable in

the run-up to the election and on the Election Day, Pokhrel asked the government to step up security. Requesting the political parties to go to the people, he said, “It is already late for the political parties to reach out to the people.” Stating that there are voices of dissent regarding the electoral system, Pokhrel also told the ministers to pay heed to these voices.

Pokhrel also asked the political leaders to abide by the ECC. Home Minister KP Sitaula said, “The government will resolve political issues through talks, while other issues will be resolved through deployment of police personnel.”

Information Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara said that the ECC will not be implemented if ambassadors and officials of constitutional bodies are not appointed in five to seven days.