While the Supreme Court is preparing to announce its verdict following the completion of hearings, the Election Commission has announced the schedule for the November midterm polls.

As per the schedule of the commission, the election process will begin from July 15 when political parties can start registering to take part in the general elections slated for November 12 and 19. The deadline for party registration is July 30.

The schedule also includes all other activities leading up to the elections.

“The schedule has been announced as per the norms for the polls,” said Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Thapaliya. “These schedules should be ready a week after the announcement of polls.”

But whether the elections will take place is uncertain as the May 21 dissolution of the House of Representatives and announcement of mid-term of polls has been challenged in the Supreme Court.

On Monday, three senior advocates pleading on behalf of the plaintiffs concluded their rebuttal on arguments presented by the lawyers of the defendants after which four members of amicus curiae presented their independent arguments to complete the hearing.

However, observers have said the decision of the Election Commission to announce the schedule as the five-member Constitutional Bench is preparing its verdict may be to to influence the Supreme Court.

“Though it is the regular task of the commission the timing of its revelation is reason to be suspicious,” said Neelkantha Uprety, former Chief Commissioner of the Election Commission. “Preparing the schedule was the first task of the commission which it should have done as soon as the government announced the polls.”

He said it would be better if the commission had not revealed at this moment which has sowed suspicion on its intent.

“Maybe the authorities have had compulsion,” Uprety said.

But Thapaliya defended the announcement.

“It has no connection of the announcement with anything else and we don’t regard other issues while doing our job,” Thapaliya told the Post.