The country is now headed for the local level elections after the government and the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday agreed to hold the local elections on May 18. At a meeting with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, EC officials proposed to conduct the local polls on May 18. The government is expected to formally announce the date of local polls from the upcoming Cabinet meeting. PM Deuba asked the EC to carry out all necessary preparations to conduct the local polls in a single phase. This has put uncertainty and legal ambiguities regarding the date of local polls to rest. It has also met the demand of the opposition CPN-UML that has called for the declaring the date of local polls at the earliest. The political parties were divided over the date of local polls owing to some contradictions in the Local Level Election Act, 2073 B.S. and Article 225 of the constitution.

Earlier, the ruling coalition partners had decided to hold local polls in mid-June and amend the Act if it contradicts with the principal law of the land. However, the EC has said that the Act needs not to be amended if the local polls are held before May 19. As the term of local level elected representatives is going to expire on May 19 this year, the EC had earlier suggested that the government should hold local polls in one phase on April 27 and if they were held in two phases, the polls be conducted also on May 5. In 2017, the local polls were held in three phases - on May 14, June 28 and September 18. The existing laws do not allow extending the tenure of the local level representatives. So there is no option but to hold the election before the end of their term.

It is the constitutional responsibility of both the government and the EC to conduct the local polls within the given timeframe. The EC needs at least 120 days from the announcement of poll date to complete the election-related administrative and logistic works to conduct the polls. The prevalent law authorises the EC to conduct the polls in more than one phase. As the government decided to hold upcoming local polls in a single phase, this will help save money and other resources. On Tuesday, the EC estimated that around Rs. 12 billion would be spent on the upcoming local polls. Five years ago, it cost Rs. eight billion to hold the local polls.

Now it is imperative for all to create an atmosphere conducive to holding the local polls in a free, fair and impartial manner. Nepal's constitution has granted around 22 exclusive rights to local units with a view to enhancing the participation of local people and stakeholders in decision-making and development works. The local polls give impetus to grassroots democracy while stressing the just mobilisation and distribution of local means and resources. The EC and the political parties should launch election education and awareness drive for the people about the importance of election and increase their participation in it. It is only with their informed choice and decision that the electorates are able to send competent and bona fide deputies to the local governments.