The State Affairs Committee of the Federal Parliament has directed the government and Election Commission to hold elections for all the vacant posts of local and province level within mid-May.

The committee on Wednesday summoned Minister for Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa and the office bearers of election body and directed them to hold the elections for all the vacant posts of federal and provincial and local level. The meeting also held discussions on the problems of the commission.

According to Election Commission, at least 30 posts are lying vacant including ward chairperson, mayor and province member apart from Dalit women member and women member.

The Election Commission said the post of Dalit woman member has been lying vacant as no one had filed candidacies in 175 wards. In response, the committee asked the Election Commission to seek alternative of the issue and to prepare draft of necessary laws for the same.

“It is yet to be studied how many posts are lying vacant. There is lack of budget, source and laws for the study,” said Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhi Prasad Yadav.  Yadav said that there is lack of law to hold re-election for the vacant posts.

Minister for Home Affairs Thapa said the Cabinet has already endorsed some Acts necessary to amend the laws. He claimed that there will be no problem of laws.

The Election Commission said that the election is yet to be held in 11 wards of Solududhkunda Municipality of Solukhumbu.

Similarly, the committee has also directed the Election Commission and Ministry of Home Affairs to formulate necessary laws to take ahead the work to implement the directive of Supreme Court to ensure voting rights for the Nepali citizens living in foreign countries.