Analysis Update 8 – Campaign Period Incidents Prior to Second Phase (June 28) Local Elections
On June 15, the Government of Nepal (GoN) announced that the second phase of local elections would be postponed in Province 2 until September 18, and that elections would go forward as scheduled for June 28 in Provinces 1, 5 and 7. The government said that the decision was taken following an understanding with Rashtriya Janta Party Nepal (RJPN) to allow more time to create an environment for RJPN to participate in elections in Province 2. RJPN, however, denied reaching such agreement and continued to call for elections to be postponed in all provinces. RJPN announced to boycott and disrupt elections across all provinces on June 28, reiterating they would not participate in elections without getting their demands addressed.