KATHMANDU, June 27: The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday said full-fledged preparations for the November 22 election to the Constituent Assembly (CA) can move ahead only after constitutional and legal difficulties are removed.
Acting Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety during separate meetings with President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and caretaker Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai on Wednesday urged the government to remove constitutional and legal difficulties at the earliest.
"EC needs constitutional and legal provisions to begin preparations for the election," said Uprety, adding, election regulations cannot be formulated until the constitutional and legal barriers are removed.
Speaking to media persons after the meetings, Uprety said, "I informed both of them (president and prime minister) about the preparations for the election. EC has already enforced electoral code of conduct and has directed security chiefs to come up with a security plan for the election. It is also working on registration of voters."
In response, both the president and the prime minister told Uprety to push forward the preparations for the CA election. They also told Uprety that support from political parties was essential to removing legal and constitutional difficulties.
When asked if EC could hold the CA election on November 22, Uprety said it would be premature to predict if the polls would be held on time.
"EC is hopeful that the government will remove the constitutional and legal difficulties by forging consensus with opposition parties," he added.
EC has formally informed the government that the electoral laws must be amended by third week of July if the election is to be held on time.
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