India donates electronic voting machines to Nepal

Kathmandu, Apr 2 (PTI) India Thursday handed over to
Nepal Electronic Voting Machines in its efforts to support the
institutionalisation of multiparty democracy in the Himalayan
country.

The move to give EVMs worth USD 1,50,000 by India comes
after Nepal successfully conducted election in Kathmandu-1
constituency with the help of such machines as part of a pilot
project for the first time in its history.

After this, the election commission decided to conduct
bypolls in the six constituencies on April 10 with these EVMs.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Rakesh Sood Thursday handed
over the EVMs to the secretary of Election Commission, Shushil
Junga Bahadur Rana. There are some 870 control units, 470
ballot units and 1212 battery packs, according to a release
issued by the Election Commission here.

The supply of EVMs reflect India's continued commitment
to support the institutionalisation of multiparty democracy in
Nepal, Sood said.

Earlier in April last year, India had supplied 200 EVMs
and 600 additional ballot units for use in the Constituent
Assembly elections. India will support the efforts of Nepalese
people toward establishing peace, democracy and prosperity, he
said.

Chief Election Commissioner Pokharel said the Election
Commission was working out on a five-year strategy to
introduce EVMs throughout the country.