The Election Commission on Wednesday recommended federal and provincial elections on November 18.

Though the last federal and provincial and local elections in 2017 were held on two different dates—November 26 and December 7—the commission this time is aiming the two polls in a single phase.

During the meeting with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Wednesday, the commission recommended the date.

“We recommended November 18 for federal and provincial elections,” Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Thapaliya told the Post. “We can hold both elections in a single day across the country.”

The commission said in a press statement that holding the elections in a single phase would be cost effective as well as easier from the management point of view.

As per the Election Commission Act 2017, the government announces election dates in consultation with the Election Commission.

According to Thapaliya, Prime Minister Deuba responded saying that it would be better to have a before November 21 date for the elections.

“The Prime Minister also agreed to hold elections in a single phase,” Thapaliya said.

He said that they suggested the date considering that it would be comfortable for the commission because there would be enough time for the commission for preparations.

Prime Minister Deuba also on different occasions had said that the elections would be held within November.

Local elections were also held in the single phase across the country on May 13 to elect a new set of representatives for 753 local units.

From the upcoming elections, 165 members will be elected to the House of Representatives under the First Past the Post (direct election system) and 110 will be elected under the proportional representation system.

Similarly, for seven provincial assemblies, 330 members will be elected under the direct system and 220 will be elected under the proportional system.