The constitutional body has said it took the decision saying extension of the deadline for filing of the nominations would not affect the upcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) election scheduled for November 19. Justifying its decision, EC has maintained that it wants the CA polls to be more participatory. [break]
The government on Wednesday and the High Level Political Committee (HLPC) on Tuesday had formally urged EC to extend the deadline for filing of the nominations by 10 days.
Asked how EC would accomplish its tasks after adjustment in the calendar of events, Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety said, “We have decided to work extra shifts during holidays,” he added. He also clarified that the commission cannot make any change in the calendar of events yet again. “There is no room for another change in the calendar of events,” Uprety maintained.
However, with changes in the calendar of events already in effect, EC´s plan of printing ballot papers has also been pushed back. As per the adjustment made by the commission, political parties registered with EC should file nominations for seats under proportional electoral system on September 30, instead of September 23 and for seats under FPTP electoral system on October 3, instead of September 26.
According to the re-scheduled calendar of events, the commission will publish names of political parties to participate under proportional electoral system on October 1. EC will publish final list of political parties to participate under proportional electoral system on October 3 and will also allocate them election symbols on the same day.
Political parties should submit closed list of candidates on October 4 and the commission will ask them to make corrections, if any, on October 5.
As per the calendar of events, political parties should submit amended closed list of candidates on October 16 while EC will make public the final lists on October 23.
One can file compliant against competency of nominated candidates on October 24 and the commission will take decision on the issue on October 31.
EC will issue a notice regarding removal of candidate from closed list on November 7 while candidates, who want withdrawal of their candidacy, can file application to this effect on November 8.
The commission will inform the concerned political parties about withdrawal of their candidate´s names on November 15 and will publish the final list the same day.
FPTP events
Political parties should file nominations for seats under FPTP on October 3 and EC will publish the list of nominated candidates on October 4. One can file complaint against nominated candidates on October 5 while the commission will take decision on such complaints on October 6.
Similarly, EC will publish the list of candidates on October 7 while a candidate can withdraw his/her candidacy on October 8. Likewise, the commission will publish final list of candidates on October 9 and will allocate election symbols on October 10.
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