KATHMANDU, May 30: In a bid to bring the agitating Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) on board the local elections, the government registered an amendment to the Local Level Election Act, in parliament Tuesday.
The government has proposed removing a mandatory provision in the Act which states that political parties must submit the signatures of representatives of the respective political party at least 15 days before the date for candidacy nominations.
Govt ready to amend election laws: Minister Sharma
The amendment proposal says that political parties can submit the signatures to the Election Commission within any time prior to candidacy nominations allowed by the commission.
The cabinet meeting on Monday decided to amend the law after the agitating RJPN put forth a demand for this change as a condition for its participation in local polls. The amendment should be passed by the House with a majority vote, but it could take at least a week to complete the parliamentary procedure.
The Election Commission is likely to defer the nomination date, which was originally scheduled for Friday, following the decision of the government to postpone the second phase local polls in Provinces 1, 2, 5 and 7.
The poll date was postponed in a bid to bring the RJPN and other fringe agitating parties on board the local polls. However, RJPN hasn't decided to take part in the polls, putting forth various demands.
