Jhapa, November 10:

Chief election commissioner Keshav Raj Rajbhandari today said the election symbol issued to one political party would not be given to another party even if the former does not register itself for the forthcoming elections.

Talking to journalists at the DDC meeting hall at Jhapa’s Chandragadhi, today, Rajbhandari said, “Even though the political parties do not come for registration, the election symbol which has already been issued for one party will not be issued to another political party.”

“It will be a premature comment to say which party would contest the forthcoming municipal polls and which won’t because no political party has informed the election commission that it would boycott the election. There is still time until November 18 to register a party for the municipal polls,” Commissioner Rajbhandari said.

“Preparations for the polls announced by the Election Commission — an autonomous constitutional body — scheduled for February 8 has been completed. The EC is competent to hold a free and fair election, he said, adding, “There is no room for doubt.”

Urging all the political parties to strengthen their relationships with the EC, he said, “All political parties who believe in the 1990 constitution should participate in the elections to be organised by a constitutional body.”

Stating that the international observers will be invited to observe municipal polls, he said, eligible voters who do not have voter’s ID cards can cast thier votes by presenting their citizenship certificates, land ownership certificates, employees’ certificates, journalists identity card and on the verification of the election officer. Also, a voter can cast vote if the municipality or DDC issues a letter clarifying the person’s identity.