UP election schedule on Sept 15, voting on Nov

The Election Commission (EC) is moving ahead with plans to hold local government elections, with the commission considering September 15 for announcing the election schedule and November for the start of phased voting in union parishads and municipalities.

The commission has already stepped up preparations after the Local Government Ministry responded to an EC request for details on the most recent Union Parishad elections and other relevant information. 

However, union councils facing boundary disputes or pending court cases will likely be kept out of the initial polls, according to the EC.

In a letter sent to the EC on August 2, Local Government Ministry Deputy Secretary Ziaur Rahman forwarded information collected from deputy commissioners on the last general elections held in the country’s union parishads.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said the EC was fully prepared to conduct the local government polls and was coordinating with the government.

''We believe November, December and January are the most suitable months for holding elections. We will try to begin the polls during this period and hold as many elections as possible.''

Masud added that voting would be suspended during Ramadan, which falls in February, while some elections could potentially be held toward the end of March.

''We are thinking of announcing the schedule on September 15 and starting voting in November. We are proceeding with this plan.'' 

The commissioner said the EC would also consider whether students have examinations during the proposed election period.

The EC plans to begin the local government election process with Union Parishads, while municipal elections are also expected to be held alongside them.

However, Masud said it was unlikely that all local government elections would be completed within the next year.