The government has formally appointed two Election Commissioners, Usha Nepal and Dr. Nilkantha Upreti.

The cabinet meeting, on Thursday, appointed the two ECs following endorsement of their nominations by the Parliamentary Special Hearing Committee (PSHC).

Nepal is a former administrator and Dr. Upreti is an election expert. The government has already appointed Dr. Bhoj Raj Pokharel as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). Their appointments have come at a time when the government and the Maoists have agreed to hold elections to the Constituent Assembly by mid-June 2007.

Meanwhile, UN Resident Coordinator Matthew Kahane met with CEC Dr. Pokharel at the latter’s office on Thursday. This visit comes at a time when the November 8 agreement between the SPA government and the Maoists mentions about seeking UN’s help in monitoring the forthcoming election to Constituent Assembly.