Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Ayodhee Prasad Yadav has said there have been signs of “positive environment” for holding elections in the Madhes region.

Speaking to mediapersons in Dhulikhel of Kavre district on Wednesday, the EC chief expressed hope that elections would take place on the slated date of May 14 without difficulties. 

He, however, dropped a caveat, saying all political parties must help create “good environment” for polls.

The Madhes-based parties have been objecting to the government plan to hold local level elections, taking place in two decades, stoking concerns that voting particularly in the eight districts of Province 2 could be affected. The Madhes-based parties, which two weeks ago withdrew their support to the government saying it failed to address their demand of constitution amendment, have announced protests and warned of disrupting polls. 

“All political parties should help create an environment for successful holding of elections,” said Yadav. “Now it seems there is positive environment for polls in Madhes.”

The EC chief has long been calling on political parties and leader, including Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, to help create an environment where all forces, in and outside Parliament, could be accommodated for the successful conduct of elections.

Earlier on March 19 also the EC, during a press conference in the Capital, had expressed its concern over lack of consensus among parties and possibility of elections in Province 2. “We have been saying that the participation of all the political parties in local level elections should be ensured,” CEC Yadav had told journalists. 

According to Yadav, the EC has already deployed officials in the districts for poll preparations. The EC has also started voter education programmes in the districts, he said. The Madhes-based parties have maintained that the government should postpone the elections until an amendment to the constitution.