The Election Commission (EC) has said that the symbols of only four nationally recognised parties will be secure in the upcoming municipal polls.

The EC has placed the symbols of major political parties except Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML, which did not register before the EC for the municipal elections, in the independent categories.

Chief Election Commissioner Keshab Raj Bhandari

Chief Election Commissioner Keshab Raj Bhandari
(File Photo)
The four nationally recognised parties are the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Nepal Sadvawana Party.

NC (Democratic) has expressed serious objection over the Election Commission’s decision of giving the party’s reserved election symbol, ‘kalash’ (jar), to independent candidates. The party’s Central Working Committee meeting that concluded Tuesday urged the Commission to review its decision.

“The Commission had given the election symbol on 30 September 2002, after it recognized the Nepali Congress split,” said a press statement issued by the party.

The alliance of seven opposition political parties have decided to boycott the municipal polls slated for February 8 next year saying a conducive environment for free and fair elections does not exist and did not register before the EC for municipal elections.

However, the EC made it clear that the election symbols of NC (D) remains secure for the parliamentary polls.

Spokesperson of the Commission, Tejmuni Bajracharya, said election symbols to other parties than the four nationally recognised parties would be given from among the group of independent symbols. However, the election symbol of these parties will remain protected for the election to the House of Representatives.”

“The provision of awarding election symbols are different for the parliament and local body elections; symbols like ‘kalash’ (jar), ‘madal’ and house belong to the independent group and there is no reason to protest against this”, Bajracharya said.

The Commission has determined 102 symbols for the upcoming municipality elections.

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner Keshab Raj Bhandari warned that the EC would revoke major political parties’ recognition if they boycott the upcoming municipal elections. He also urged the parties to take part in the same.

Addressing a two-day regional workshop of CDOs and officials of the election office in Nepalgunj, Raj Bhandari said as election is the backbone of democracy, the parties are urged to participate in it.

“We are here to protect the parties’ existence if they listen to us,” he said, adding that they should respect the Election Commission (EC) by taking part in the polls as it is the body that recognises them.