EC still has long poll ‘shopping list’

KATHMANDU, JUL 04 -
As the country braces itself for the new Constituent Assembly elections and the clock is ticking for the Election Commission to speed up preparations, the EC still has a long ‘shopping list’.

Getting things done before November 19, according to EC officials, will be a tall order if all poll-related logistical arrangements are not made according to just what the doctor ordered.

The EC requires 67 kinds of election materials ranging from needles to helicopters to make the elections a success. “Elections may look an easy job, but making all logistical arrangements is a tough  job,” said Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety.

Despite several challenges standing in its way, the EC is confident that the elections would be held on time in a free and credible manner.

Of the bulky poll-related materials required for the polls, the EC can buy a few inside the country, whereas the others needs to be imported from foreign countries. The election body has already initiated a process to purchase those materials from the domestic market and aboard.

Along with producing electoral materials and voter roll sheets the EC has to purchase stamps, sacks, ropes, plastic materials, pens, T-shirts, caps, candles, seals and bags,

among other things, from domestic markets. The remaining materials such as security seals, stickers are being imported from Japan, while CCTV cameras will be purchased from China. The EC is bringing in indelible ink from India and has requested the southern neighbour for vehicles.Japanese authorities have assured of an electoral assistance to the tune of Rs 120 million and China  maximum Rs 180 million for logistic arrangements. Japan, which had provided ballot boxes in the 2008 CA elections, has assured of logistic support, including ballot boxes, this time too.

The EC has already called on the Ministry of Finance to request Indian, Chinese and Japanese governments for logistic support. According to Uprety, the EC is importing 41 kinds of materials and eight items from China. EC officials estimate that the country would require 10,000 ballot boxes and around 300 million ballot papers for the upcoming elections.

“We have been keeping a close watch on local and international markets to purchase logistics. Except helicopters, we have to buy everything,” added Uprety.

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