ANFA forced to halt election after security deployment

KATHMANDU: The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), which had repeatedly ignored directives from government authorities, was forced to halt its scheduled election on Friday after security personnel were deployed at its premises.

The Election Commission had, for the second time on Wednesday, formally instructed ANFA to suspend all election-related activities, citing the enforcement of the election code of conduct.

Defying the directive, ANFA’s Election Committee continued preparations for the election scheduled for March 11.

Following this, the District Administration Office, Lalitpur, ordered the deployment of security forces at ANFA headquarters, compelling the federation to suspend the election process.

“The election process of ANFA has been halted because the election code of conduct is in effect based on the Election Commission’s directive,” said Lalitpur Chief District Officer Prem Prasad Bhattarai. “We have implemented the Commission’s order.”

ANFA had earlier proceeded with election preparations on Feb 10, disregarding directives from the National Sports Council and an initial interim order of the High Court.

The High Court issued the interim order on Jna 18 following a writ petition filed by ANFA Vice Chair Birat Jung Shahi, forcing ANFA to postpone the election for the first time.

During the legal proceedings, the Election Commission had also formally directed ANFA to suspend the election process.

However, after the High Court Patan on Feb 10 vacated its earlier interim order, ANFA’s Election Committee published a new election schedule.

Based on that schedule, representatives from some C Division clubs, as well as B Division clubs and from Koshi and Gandaki provinces, were selected in recent days.

On Falgun 6, the Election Commission issued a second official letter directing ANFA to suspend all election activities.

Ignoring the directive once again, ANFA resumed the election process, which ultimately led to the deployment of security personnel and the forced suspension of the election on Friday.

In a notice issued on Friday evening, ANFA’s Election Committee announced that the election scheduled for March 11 has been postponed until further notice.

According to the most recent election calendar, Friday was scheduled for the publication of the final list of candidates and authorized voting representatives.

The Election Commission had also instructed ANFA to promptly inform the Commission about the implementation of its directive.

Despite this, ANFA continued its election activities. In a letter issued on Falgun 6, the Commission warned that legal action would be taken under the Election Code of Conduct 2082 if ANFA failed to comply.

The Commission stated that, based on its decision of Jan 18, the election code of conduct remains in force and all election programs must be suspended.

Following the resumption of the election process by ANFA, central committee member Rupesh Adhikari filed an application with the Election Commission on Feb 17, seeking intervention to stop the election.

Acting on this application, the Commission issued formal correspondence instructing ANFA to halt the election process.

Based on the nominations filed on Jan 17, the Election Committee had published a revised election schedule, which included holding the General Assembly and election on March 11.

For the post of President of ANFA’s Central Executive Committee, incumbent ANFA Chair Pankaj Bikram Nembang and Vice Chair Dirgha Bahadur KC (Kumar) have filed their nominations.

For other positions, nominations have been filed by:

• 2 candidates for Senior Vice Chair

• 10 candidates for 4 Vice Chair positions

• More than 30 candidates for 15 Central Committee member positions