AHMED DEEPTO

The Election Commission (EC) yesterday said it was gearing up preparations to conduct local government elections, targeting October as the possible timeline, starting with the union parishad polls.

Following a meeting on the EC’s local poll preparation, the constitutional body said the number of polling centres may increase slightly this time, and the drafts of the code of conduct would likely be finalised within a 15-day timeframe once it gets feedback from political parties and stakeholders.

The commission said no decision regarding the polls will be taken without discussing it with political parties.

According to the EC, ballot boxes, presiding officers, and polling officers are already in place for the elections. Discussions have also been held on whether the budget for the polls can be reduced.

The EC also said it discussed the participation of teachers from private educational institutions in local elections but could not reach a decision.

The commission held a four-hour-long meeting yesterday from 11:00am to 3:30pm regarding the overall preparation. The meeting also reviewed laws and regulations related to local government polls.

Asked about the discussions, Election On This

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