Government's decision final on timing of local government elections: PM's Adviser

Prime Minister's Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman has said the government's decision will be final on when local government elections will be held. He said the schedule announced by the Election Commission (EC) can be changed, postponed or advanced through discussions with the government.

He made these remarks in response to journalists' questions at a press conference on the progress of various government activities on Tuesday, September 15.

Zahed Ur Rahman said the State Minister for Local Government has already said that no decision or specific timeline has been fixed by the government regarding this election. The Election Commission has given a schedule at its own discretion. The State Minister's statement will be considered as the government's position.

He said that according to the Constitution, the Election Commission has direct constitutional responsibility for organising presidential and national parliamentary elections. However, other elections must be conducted in coordination with the government as per the law. Local government elections also fall under this arrangement.

In response to a question on whether any distance or disagreement has been created between the government and the Election Commission centring the EC's announced schedule, the adviser was unwilling to view the matter as a conflict. In his words, the schedule given by the Election Commission can be changed through discussions with the government if necessary.

He further said the constitutional framework for local government elections and national parliamentary elections is not the same. In the context of the parliament's term expiring, the Election Commission will perform its duties under its own jurisdiction as per the Constitution for holding national elections. However, for local government elections, coordination with the government and the government's decision are important, the Prime Minister's Information and Broadcasting Adviser said.