Legal provision must to hold CA polls, says CEC

Newly-appointed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Bhoj Raj Pokhrel on monday urged the government to provide new constitutional and legal space to hold the elections to the Constituent Assembly (CA). “Now the government should manage the constitutional and legal space to provide the ground to hold the elections to the CA,” he added.

He was talking to journalists after taking oath before the House Declaration Special Committee of the House of Representatives. Deputy Speaker Chitra Lekha Yadav and MPs were present in the ceremony. Pokhrel also added that, as the 1990 Constitution does not allow to go for the CA elections, there is an urgent need either to make a provision allowing the CA elections in the Interim Constitution or to amend the provision of the 1990 Constitution for that purpose. “The government should provide the legal way in this regard,” he added.

Asked about the possibility of holding the CA polls within April-May and his preparation, Pokhrel added that he has no different commitment except the state’s commitment in this regard. “Now it is the commitment of you and me to hold the elections at the earliest but cooperation between stakeholders is needed,” he added. Pokhrel also expressed his commitment of holding CA elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner. “There is an urgent need to boost the credibility of the Election Commission,” he added.