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November 19 Elections: Growing Doubts

  1 min 57 sec to read

--By Upashana Neupane

While the entire society (barring some groups) is upbeat about the November 19 elections for the Constituent Assembly Version-2, the chances of the elections actually being held are diminishing with each passing day. 

First is the timing of the election. November 19 falls immediately after a long holiday season. Generally, August- October is considered a festival season in Nepal and there are 15 festival holidays from August 1 to November 19 when the government offices remain closed (Aug 22 Gaijatra, Aug 28 Shreekrishna Janmastami, Sep 7 Teej, Sep 18 Indrajatra, Oct 5 Ghatasthapana, Oct 11-15 Dashain, Oct 18 Purnima, Nov 3-5 Tihar, and Nov 9 Chhath).

In such situation, Election Commission (EC) has to almost finish all major preparation before these festivals start because the staffs in the government offices rarely work even in the working days during this period. The offices look totally deserted during one month period from October 5 (when the Dashain festival starts) till November 9 (the day of Chhath festival). That is the reason why all previous general elections were held on other seasons. One previous election held after the festivals was on over a week after Chhath. 

Secondly, Mohan Baidya-led Maoist Party has been threatening the government and other political parties to obstruct the upcoming elections. It had also created an alliance of 33 fringe parties. It is good sign that a total of 18 parties out of 33 from the alliance have decided to participate in the upcoming CA polls. And the number may further increase. 

However, EC should provide sufficient time to these parties to formally register for the polls. That too will work as a drag on election process. 

Similarly, some crucial issues such as voter education, voter registration and providing election symbols to these parties are also time-consuming. 

On the other hand, there are still disputes among political parties over some crucial agenda such as fixing the number of constituencies. The Government has asked the constituency delineation Commission that at least one seat must be there for each district. 

The Commission has just started its work and it is yet to solve the dispute over number of constituencies it seems it will also add trouble in the election of the CA.

 

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