EC sets new dates for filing nominations

Kathmandu, September 30:

Following a government request, the Election Commission (EC) today rescheduled the deadline for filing nominations for the constituent assembly election.The government today urged the EC to defer the deadline for submitting the closed-list of candidates for polls to be held under the proportional representation (PR) system till October 5 and for voting to be held under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system till October 8.A Cabinet meeting earlier today endorsed a proposal to request the EC to reschedule the dates.“Following the government’s request in writing and keeping in mind the peace process and national interests, the EC has rescheduled the programme,” Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokhrel said.Candidates of political parties and independent candidates contesting under the FPTP system must now file their nominations on October 8. While the list of candidates registered with the EC will be published on October 9, complaints against anyone will have to be filed on October 10. The EC will investigate the complaints and take a decision by October 11. It will also publish the list of candidates the same day. Candidates may withdraw their nominations on October 12, while the EC will publish the final list of candidates and grant election symbols on October 14.The parties must now submit the closed-list of candidates contesting under the PR system on October 5. The closed-list will be made public on October 20 and applications against the candidates may be registered on October 21. On November 4 the EC will notify if any candidate’s name has been removed from the list.Candidates wanting to withdraw their names can do so on November 6. The EC will then publish the final closed-list and grant election symbols to the candidates on November 7.No more changes, says CEC:Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokhrel today told political parties and the government that the EC cannot make any more changes in the election programme.“This is the last (time)... that we are rescheduling the election programme. We had to do so considering national interests and the peace process. The EC alone cannot make changes in the programme if any such request is made again,” Pokhrel told a press conference.“We decided to change the programme because the future of the Nepali people directly depends on this election,” he said.He also said that the government is now making efforts to see to it that the law and order situation is improved.Pokhrel said the EC expects support from all concerned including “the government, all Nepali people, political parties, media and other stakeholders of society, friendly countries and international organisations.”Asked what will happen if the election is to be held under the fully proportional representation system as demanded by the Maoists, he said the process will be a longer one as amendments have to be made in the Interim Constitution and other related laws.