In view of the upcoming elections, Nepal has decided to take advantage of India’s experience. The Election Commission of Nepal has invited India’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajeev Kumar to play the role of an international observer in the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives and Provincial Assemblies in his country. Elections are to be held on November 20 for 275 seats in the federal parliament and 550 seats in seven provincial assemblies in Nepal. The Election Commission of India said in a statement on Thursday that Kumar would lead a delegation of Election Commission officials from November 18 to 22 as a state guest in Nepal.

CEC will visit polling booths in Kathmandu and surrounding areas

During this, Kumar will also visit polling booths in Kathmandu and surrounding areas. The Commission noted that the ECI also has an International Election Visitor Program where members from other election management bodies are invited to have first-hand experience of general and assembly elections held from time to time.

The Commission noted that the Election Commission of India has always been at the forefront of promoting the cause of democracy across the world through bilateral and multilateral consultations with other Election Management Bodies (EMBs) and relevant international organizations and associations. With a view to strengthening democratic institutions and processes, it has always endeavored to promote contacts, facilitate the exchange of knowledge and sharing of best practices, etc.

ECE’s India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) has so far trained over 2,200 officials from 109 countries, including 70 officials from Nepal, as part of the capacity-building initiative. A capacity-building program for 25 officials of the Election Commission of Nepal will be organized at IIIDEM from March 13 to 24, 2023.