Govt ‘quietly’ preparing for local body polls

KATHMANDU, JUL 31 -
While the political parties are gearing up for the Constituent Assembly elections, the government is ‘quietly’ preparing for the local polls, which could be held soon after the CA ballot.

The Ministry of Local Development and Federal Affairs (MoLDFA) has proposed a seven-member committee headed by a joint-secretary to identify possible constitutional and legal hurdles in the existing laws to hold the local elections. Allocation of a small amount of funds for local polls in the current fiscal year budget has prompted the government to start preparations to this effect. The panel is expected to come up with its report in the next two months.

According to the ministry secretary, Shanta Bahadur Shrestha, the committee will identify and assess the possible hurdles in holding the local elections soon after the Constituent Assembly elections. “This is a proposal lined up in the Cabinet,” Shrestha said. “We have to discuss on it further.”

The committee comprises former secretary Ranga Dutta Awasthi and legal expert Chandrakanta Gyawali, representative of District Development Committee Federation Madhav Poudel, and three government officials from the Ministry of Law and Justice. The ministry’s joint-secretary will be ex-officio member secretary of the committee.

“The absence of local representatives has weakened the administration and effective implementation of the government programmes and plans,” Shrestha said.

It has been 16 years since the last elections for local bodies . In absence of the local representatives, the government employees have been taking charge at Village Development Committees, District Development Committees and municipalities. The Local Self Governance Act govern the local elections.

The Supreme Court on November 7 last year had issued a directive asking the government to make necessary arrangements to conduct the local elections in response to a writ filed by Madhav Poudel of District Development Committee Federation, Bidur Mainali of Municipalities Association of Nepal and Advocate Chandrakanta Gyawali on behalf of Village Development Committees’ Federation. The petitioners had sought holding elections of local bodies stating that the absence of local representatives resulted in irregularities and corruption.

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