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Former EC commissioners for 1.5 threshold



Kathmandu, Feb 1: The Election Commission’s former office bearers on Monday called for a provision guaranteeing 1.5 per cent voting threshold.

During a consultative meeting held by Election Commission with former Chief Commissioner, commissioners and former Commission’s secretaries over a draft bill on integrating the law related to the elections, Chief Election Commissioner Dr Ayodhi Prasad Yadav urged the participants to give suggestions based on their experiences to make the draft more effective and implementation worthy.

The participants argued for making the Commission more effective in regulating the registered political parties, coordination among the government and the political parties on the provisions incorporated in the bill and transparency in parties’ income and expenditure.

The former commissioners and secretaries said the bill must explicitly address the subject of federalism, harmonious relations between the EC and political parties, and not making it mandatory the registration in the EC of parties that do not take part in election.

They further pressed for securing the EC’s authority and autonomy in coordination with the parties, making the features sought by the bill concise and clear while making the bill centered on management of election expenditure. A distinct law must be crafted to draw a line between the parties taking part in the election and those parties whose activities are only restricted to party organization.

On the occasion, Commissioner Ila Sharma underscored the significance of the Act for upholding democracy as it would secure regularization of political fraternity and proportional inclusiveness in parties.

The bill’s drafter and former minister Madhav Poudel elaborated on the curiosities put forth over the bill during the consultative meet.

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