The government has decided to hold the announced elections in 40 districts in the first phase and 37 districts in the second phase.

A Cabinet meeting held on Monday evening took a decision to this effect, even as Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s decision to dissolve the House of Representatives is being tested for its constitutionality by the Supreme Court.

“A Cabinet meeting on Monday decided to hold elections in 40 districts on April 30 and in 37 districts on May 10,” said Shiva Maya Tumbahangphe, minister for land management, cooperatives and poverty alleviation, told the Post.

After finding himself cornered in his Nepal Communist Party by his opponents, Oli on December 20 in a sudden move recommended that the President dissolve the Parliament and call snap polls for April 30 and May 10. President Bidya Devi Bhandari endorsed the recommendation the same day.

However, the House dissolution move has been challenged in the court.

The Constitutional Bench is conducting a hearing on as many as 13 writ petitions filed against the House dissolution decision.

Oli’s House dissolution move resulted in a split in the Nepal Communist Party. The other faction led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav Kumar Nepal has been protesting against the House dissolution, calling it unconstitutional. The faction has demanded restoration of the House and opposed the planned elections.

It is not clear yet when the court will pass a verdict on the House dissolution case.

If the court paves the way for elections, the first phase of voting has to take place on the 80th day from today.