Nepali migrants living and working in various foreign countries are not likely to be able to vote in upcoming elections, as no legal arrangements and preparations are in area for them to register and participate in the forms. There has been no progress in efforts begun since ahead of the 2008 constituent assembly elections to enable millions of Nepali migrants working in 110 different countries of the universe to cast their ballots. “We cannot ensure that they will be able to vote this time. It's not at all possible. That’s why must think about . the future,” said Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav when asked what plans the Election Commission (EC) had to enable migrant workers to cast their ballots.The country has to hang local, provincial and central-level elections by January 2018, as per provisions in the new constitution. With a view to enabling Nepalis working, studying or enjoying business abroad to cast their vote, the EC had began discussions before the 2008 CA election, but to no avail. Later, a high-level team headed by then election commissioner Ram Bhakta PV Thakur visited the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar in July 2012 to study the feasibility of voter registration and voting by Nepalis in those places around the world. The committee, which included senior officials inside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Labor and also the EC, had suggested possibilities for registering the scattered migrant workers and enabling them to vote. The actual team’s visit, Saudi Arabia and Qatar had decided support voter registration and voting arrangements for Nepali workers. But no concrete action was taken with government and the election body, according to officials concerned. “Obviously, out of country voter registration is difficult but the EC should not overlook the vote of millions of Nepalis have got helped shore up our economy,” said former chief election commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety adding, “The commission, however, cannot give priority to this issue.
No comments:
Post a Comment