This is not the first time Nepal is holding local elections in phases: the previous two local polls were also held in two rounds. But the gaps were short and the same election management team and electoral logistics from the first phase were used again, making it all cost-effective.
Fearing that the results of the first phase could sway voters in the second phase, the Election Commission (EC) had decided to hold local elections at one go. That was not a bad idea per se, but the EC was first forced by politicians to do it in two rounds, and then in three goes. Furthermore, the gaps are really long, which means candidates and voters in some provinces will have more time to prepare than other provinces. That is not fair from the electoral justice point of view and the EC was helpless.
Even worse, there is no certainty that the third phase of elections in Province 2 will even take place on 18 September. The Madhes-based alliance for which voting has been staggered for four times is pushing for an amendment to the constitution first. The government has not been able to address the Madhesi demand for amendments for two years: how can it suddenly solve this issue in the next couple of months?
Province 2 has one of the lowest human development indices, and a large proportion of marginalised castes and ethnicities. People there have been robbed of their rights to practice grassroots democracy and good governance. Even if voting happens in Province 2 after the rains, their elected local councils will get just four and a half years to deliver.