Chief Election Commissioner of India, Rajiv Kumar, arrived in Kathmandu on Friday to observe the upcoming general elections in Nepal.
Kumar is leading a four-member Indian delegation. He is scheduled visit polling stations in Kathmandu on the day of elections as an international observer, according to the Election Commission. Issuing a press release, India's Election Commission, said that it has been joining similar international election visitors program.
“The Election Commission of India has always been in the forefront with fellow Election Management Bodies (EMBs) and relevant international organizations/associations in promoting the cause of democracy worldwide, through bilateral as well as multilateral interactions and has always endeavored to promote contacts, facilitate exchange of knowledge and sharing of best practices with a view to strengthen democratic institutions and processes,” the release said.
ECI’s India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) has so far trained more than 2,200 officers from 109 countries, including Nepal, as part of capacity building initiatives. A capacity building program for 25 officials from Election Commission of Nepal is also scheduled to be held from 13th to 24th March 2023 at IIIDEM, according to the India's Election Commission.
“Representatives from Election Commission of Nepal participated in the recently held International Conference hosted by ECI on Conference on ‘Role, Framework & Capacity of EMBs’ as a follow on to the Summit for Democracy’ ECI would be hosting two more International conferences on the theme of “Inclusive and Accessible elections” as also “Technology in elections” as part of Cohort activities under “Summit for Democracy – Year of Action”,” it added.
Besides India, Maldives, Russia, Bhutan, Japan, South Korea and Bangladesh will also observe elections.
Bhutan's Chief Election Commissioner Sonam Topgay arrived in Nepal on Thursday. Earlier on Thursday, Maldives's Chief Election Commissioner Fuwad Thowfeek arrived.
According to the Election Commission, Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh Kazi Habibul Awal will reach Kathmandu on Saturday. Similarly, Japan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs TAKEI Shunsuke is coming to Kathmandu on Sunday. South Korea's election commissioner is, too, joining the international election observation. A team of Russian experts are also in Kathmandu to observe Nepal's elections.
