Office bearers of the Election Commission today met Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and urged him to announce the date for local polls soon.Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhi Prasad Yadav and Commissioner Ila Sharma met the Prime Minister and discussed the need for holding local polls and the commission’s preparations for the same, said a press statement issued by the commission.

EC office bearers told the Prime Minister that the commission was making preparations to bring an integrated law to deal with elections and political parties.The commissioners also told that they wanted the newly drafted Local Bodies (Election Procedure) Bill to be passed and dates for local polls announced soon, according to the statement.

According to the statement, Commissioner Ila Sharma also told the PM that as the new constitution was in the process of being amended, the government must make efforts to grant the commission the authority to announce date for elections besides ensuring financial autonomy.On the occasion, PM Oli told the office bearers of the commission that if local polls could be held soon, it would help reconstruct structures damaged by April and May earthquakes.The PM also told the EC office bearers that in order to ensure independence, fairness and credibility of polls, the EC must enforce use of voters identity cards.