ECN decides to print separate ballot papers

Kathmandu, Oct 30: The Election Commission of Nepal has decided to print separate ballot papers for first-past-the-post elections of the House of Representatives and State Assemblies slated for November 26 and December 7 respectively. A report in The Himalayan Times on Monday said the ECN took this decision on Sunday. Earlier, the election body was preparing to print a single ballot paper for the House of Representatives and State Assemblies elections. The Rastriya Janata Party Nepal leader Sarbendra Sukhla had filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court against Election Commission's decisions of printing a single ballot paper for the House of Representatives and State Assemblies. Despite changes in ECN’s decision of printing separate ballot papers, it has clarified that the upcoming elections would be held on the stipulated dates. As per the constitutional requirement, all levels of elections should be held by January 21 for the implementation of constitution and federalism in the country. UNI