Chief Commissioner of the Election Commission (EC) of Nepal Keshav Raj Rajbhandari said Tuesday he was committed to holding municipal elections before mid- April 2006, even if mainstream political parties boycott it.

Speaking at a press conference organized here, Rajbhandari said, "Our main job is to hold elections and it will be legitimized even if only 2 percent of the total voters cast their ballots."

EC is resolute on holding the elections within slated time even though seven of the total 128 political parties registered in the commission are to refrain from the forthcoming municipal elections, Rajbhandari noted.

EC has already completed all necessary preparations for the elections except announcing election dates. "It will be completed before April 6, 2006," Rajbhandari told reporters.

"This election will be different from previous elections and we have termed it a reformed elections," Rajbhandari noted.

The voters should utilize their suffrage by casting votes in a confident way as the commission is committed to maintain the fear- free environment in coordination with the security bodies in the country, according to Rajbhandari.

EC would welcome observers from the United Nations, he added.

Source: Xinhua