Election Commission Seeks Input on Political Parties Act-2017 Amendment

The Election Commission (EC) of Nepal has called upon political parties, civil society organizations, media outlets, and all relevant stakeholders to submit their recommendations and feedback on the proposed amendments to the Political Parties Act-2017. This initiative aims to bolster the efficiency of managing and regulating political parties in the country.

According to Ram Datta Pandeya, the Assistant Spokesperson for the EC, two key committees have been formed to spearhead this process. The Act Amendment Directive Committee, led by an election commissioner, and the Act Amendment Drafting Committee, headed by the EC secretary, are tasked with driving forward the amendment process.

The EC’s objective is to foster comprehensive discussions among concerned parties on a range of crucial issues. These include enhancing internal democracy within political parties, ensuring transparent party membership procedures, improving fund management and financial transparency, enforcing party statutes, establishing effective dispute resolution mechanisms, and maintaining proper decision archiving. Additionally, discussions will cover topics such as the preparation and enforcement of election manifestos, regulations for party separation and formation, standardization of accounting and auditing practices, utilization of a single electoral symbol, enforcement of a code of conduct, and the provision of state funding for political parties.

The EC aims to address these multifaceted issues in a thorough manner, with the ultimate goal of reaching conclusive decisions that will contribute to the enhancement of Nepal’s political landscape. Stakeholders are encouraged to actively participate in this crucial process by submitting their suggestions and viewpoints to the Election Commission.