Kathmandu, July 8: Chief Election Commissioner Dr Ayodhi Prasad Yadav has
expressed the determination to bring significant reforms in the management of
upcoming elections based on the lessons of the two phases of local level
elections held recently.
He also
emphasized on the need for the political parties and candidates to remain alert
and conscious of adhering to the election code of conduct so as to bring
improvement in the election process.
CEC Dr Yadav
talked to RSS Correspondent Narayan Prasad Neupane about the recently concluded
local level elections and various issues related to it including the delay in
vote counting and the enforcement of the election code of conduct. Excerpts of
the interview are as follows:
Q. The first and
second phase of local level elections have concluded, what is the overall
assessment and evaluation of the EC about it?
The managerial
task of the Commission has been successful, participation of the voters
remained encouraging while support of political parties and candidates was
equally notable. The credit of free and fair elections however goes to the
voters. The second phase of the local level elections has been the most
successful elections so far. As this election stands as a memorable one in
history, EC takes this as one that has been successfully managed.
Q. How was the
support from the government to the election?
Election Commission is not the only one
responsible for elections. For this support from the government is inevitable,
and the support from the present government to us was more than expected. The
budget and human resources was as much as we had sought, while the government
played a significant role in building the political atmosphere for the
election. The assurance of security to the voters, political parties,
candidates and employees mobilized for the election on behalf of the government
also helped make the election exemplary and historical.
Q. What were the
challenges to hold elections during a monsoon?
Of course, the
Commission faced difficulties at times due to the weather. We had hoped for
favourable natural environment if the elections were held in a single phase on
May 14. But then the elections were postponed to June 14 in course of managing
the required political atmosphere for it, which put us in a very difficult
situation. However, thanks to the support from all, 74 per cent of voting was
registered even in the election held during the monsoon. Voters came with their
umbrellas while the polling centres had to be covered with tents. Voting
however had to be withheld for few hours in some places. The utter desire for
elections among the political parties, candidates and voters, their patience
and goodwill helped conclude the elections successfully.
Q. How did you
find the role of the political parties, the major stakeholders of the election?
Yes, the
political parties are the major stakeholders among various kinds of
stakeholders in an election. And support from all including the parties, the
candidates, civil society, media, observers, intellectuals, former
commissioners, the international community and others concerned was very good.
It was because of the support of all that Nepal has been able to present an example
of good local level elections before the international community.
Q. What's the
take of EC on media houses' roles played during the elections?
The mass media
extended a huge support to create environment conducive for the local level
polls. All news contents about elections have been disseminated with high
priority. The EC has assessed the
support received from the media with due respect. In a nutshell, the role of
mass media by realizing the responsibility to the nation and citizens remained
very positive for making the polls a success.
Q. How are the
media found to have paid attention to the social aspects?
The media has a
crucial role towards social responsibility. The fear of political parties,
candidates and civil personnel towards media is linked to the social
responsibility. Election is a phenomenon of social science and the media has a
serious role to awaken society.
The Press Council
of Nepal was given the responsibility to carry out the task of media monitoring
during the elections. Journalists should write contents to support people's
desires to implement democracy, federalism, secularism and republicanism. The
constitution has given full-fledged rights for the same.
Q. Could you
recall the most remarkable and striking issues of the first and second phase of
the local level polls?
I turned
emotional and excited when I saw a long queue of voters after I set out for
Mahendra Adarsha Voting Centre, Lalitpur, from my residence in the first phase
of the polls. Participation of voters and their excitement is the greatest
achievement in terms of elections.
Voters' patience
and excitement and the huge turnout in the polls have made a huge contribution
to democracy, federalism and republicanism. Now, proportional representation
and inclusion envisioned by the constitution have been ensured.
Q. Are there any
other contents that the EC wanted but were short of implementation?
The lessons learnt in
the first phase of the polls were implemented in the second phase. The learning
and experiences of the second phase should be implemented in the upcoming
elections. Accelerating the vote counts process, management of sufficient human
resource and stress on voters' education would be prioritized and given
continuity in the future elections.
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