KATHMANDU – Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel has assured that there would not be a shortage of budget to hold midterm elections.
During a meeting called by the Election Commission on Tuesday, Finance Minister Paude said that the government will allocate the necessary budget to hold the elections.
The Election Commission has been holding discussions with various stakeholders including political parties as part of its preparations to conduct the midterm polls.
Earlier on December 20 last year, the government dissolved the House of Representatives and decided to hold midterm polls in two phases. The midterm polls are scheduled to be held on April 30 and May 10.
Speaking at the meeting organized to discuss budget management, Finance Minister Paudel said that the preparations made by the Commission to hold the elections was encouraging.
“The government will provide a required budget to hold elections in a free, fair, impartial and credible way. There will not be any shortage of budget and the ministry will provide full support to mobilize international assistance in line with the government policy,” said Finance Minister Paudel.
Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya said that the Commission was committed to hold the elections in stipulated time.
“As we have to carry out election related activities also by considering the Covid-19, there is a new and additional pressure on budget management this time compared to previous elections,” he added.
