Kathmandu: The Election Commission has revoked a provision that mentioned that a political party contesting for only the post of either chief or deputy chief of a municipal should compulsorily field a woman candidate.
The commission rescinded the decision after the political parties protested against the provision stating that it is against existing laws.
Issuing a statement on Tuesday, Election Commission Spokesperson Shaligram Sharma said that the ‘directive was corrected’.
The statement said that the commission had intended to state that political party contesting for only the post of either chief or deputy chief of a municipal should prioritize women candidates.
There is a chance that the representation of women at the local level will decline as the existing legal provision to field a woman candidate in either post will not apply to fielding candidates from different parties. The ruling alliance has decided to forge an electoral alliance in the upcoming polls.
Section 17 (4) of the Local Level Election Act-2017 states that a political party should field a woman as a candidate for either chief or deputy chief at the local level. However, the same act mentions that the provision will not be applicable when a political party fields candidates for a single position.
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