Amid efforts by Kathmandu to establish a multi-party democracy, India and Nepal today inked a key pact to deepen cooperation in the field of election management and boost voters participation.
India’s Chief Election Commissioner Dr. S.Y. Quraishi, who is on an official three-day visit to Nepal, and his Nepalese counterpart Neel Kantha Uprety signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for exchange of knowledge, experience and expertise relating to the electoral process and systems.
They also aim to deepen cooperation in the training of personnel, development of human resources and voters’ awareness programme to boost participation in elections.
There is already an active bilateral exchange between the two Election Commissions. Indian Election Commission’s officers, including technical experts on Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), have been visiting Nepal for providing assistance and demonstration since 2006.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) had gifted about 700 EVM to Nepal for use in some constituencies. The Nepalese Commission has requested for ECI’s expertise in legal matters.
Addressing a programme on ‘Managing Indian Elections –Sharing experiences and prospects for co-operation” in Kathmandu, Quraishi said the complexities of managing polls in India is large but the ECI has been able to deliver free and fair elections.
… Nepal, which abolished its 240-year-old monarchy in May 2008 and became a republic, held a landmark Constituent Assembly election in the same year to frame a new constitution.
Full Article: news.outlookindia.com | India, Nepal Ink Pact to Boost Election Management.