No decision yet on holding local and provincial elections together: chief election commissioner

Chief Election Commissioner Man Bahadur Karki has said it is too early to say whether local and provincial elections will be held at the same time.

Speaking at an informal meeting with a team from the National News Agency at the commission's office on Thursday, he said the commission is engaged in internal preparations for the upcoming local-level elections.

He said the commission is committed to holding a fair and dispute-free election on the date set by the government.

Asked about reports that the government is preparing to hold local elections as early as Falgun, Karki said the commission was not in a position to speak about the date now, and that under the constitution the government announces the date in consultation with the commission.

He also said the commission holds the view that local bodies should not be left vacant for long, and that preparations are being made accordingly. The term of the current local representatives ends next Baishakh.