The government has decided to hold by-elections for local government positions on December 1. The Cabinet meeting on Sunday approved the proposal put forward by the Election Commission.

“The meeting decided to conduct the by-elections on the date proposed by the Commission,” said Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung, the government spokesperson.

Earlier, high-ranking officials at the commission, including Chief Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya, had met Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and proposed the by-election date.

According to Thapaliya, Prime Minister Oli had urged them to start the preparations.

Prime Minister Oli also called on the election authority to create an environment for free, fair and peaceful elections.

According to the election authority, there are 41 vacant positions, including two district coordination committee chiefs, two chairs, four vice-chairs, and 10 ward chairs of rural municipalities, as well as one mayor, one deputy mayor, and 21 ward chairs of municipalities.

Earlier, the commission conducted by-elections for the House of Representatives in Bara-2, Chitwan-2, and Tanahu-1 on April 23, 2023, and for Ilam Constituency-2 on 27 April 2024. The provincial assembly election in Bajhang (A) was also held on April 27.