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Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya emphasized the need to expand election education and voter education for greater participation of citizens in the election.

In a press statement on the occasion of the 9th Election Day today, Chief Election Commissioner Thapaliya saw urgency of making arrangements that would allow voters enlisted in the voter list in a designated polling station to cast their votes at any polling stations across the country.

The Election Day has been observed every year on Falgun 7 since 2073 BS, commemorating the General Elections held in Nepal for the first time on the same day in 2015 BS.

Thapaliya, in the press statement, expressed his displeasure over the false narrative being developed by the political parties and their candidates around the cost of the electoral system by inflating their election campaign's expenses. According to him, the election management cost is relatively low.

He also expressed his concern over the questions raised over the integrity of the State mechanism used during the election and viewed that this mechanism should be mobilized by the body managing the election after the election date is announced.

He argued that the success of elections would depend on the awareness level among the citizens about their rights and responsibilities, from electing representatives to exercising their rights.

The Chief Election Commissioner also held the belief that legislation regarding election management and operation would be formulated and enforced at the earliest.

He acknowledged that the management of social media and artificial intelligence had emerged as a new challenge during the election.

Likewise, in the press statement, Secretary at the Commission Bharat Mani Subedi affirmed that the Election Commission of Nepal maintained integrity and impartiality throughout the election process.

He, however, called for a review to assess the need for improvement in the procedures and methods in the election management. The slogan for the 9th Election Day is 'Effectiveness of Election: Participation of General Citizens in the Election Process'.

National Assembly (NA) chair Narayan Prasad Dahal has stressed the need to pay attention to the protection and promotion of democracy achieved from the great sacrifices and struggles of the Nepali people.

While extending the best wishes on the occasion of National Democracy Day 2081 BS today, he said that adherence, protection and implementation of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal should be the main priority of the day.

Stating that today is a historic day to inspire forward-looking political change and to unite for the rights of the people, Chairman Dahal said that the change of 2007 BS in Nepal's political history was foundation stone for all movements.

"The significance of celebrating the Republic Day will be to take a pledge to move forward to protect and strengthen democratic values and make the democratic system effective and accountable to the people," Chairman Dahal said in a message.

He wished for moving forward united for the protection of democracy, freedom of expression and prosperity and development of the country.

CPN (Maoist Center) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal said it is the need of hour to move ahead with unison to transform the status of the people as per the changed political system.

Extending best wishes on the occasion of the National Democracy Day today, the former Prime Minister said it was the national task to lay the foundation of a socialism-oriented State through the implementation of the Constitution while protecting the achievements gained on the strength of the people's struggle.

"Democracy which was established on the sacrifices of the Nepali people has refined and modified itself and reached the glorious state of the federal democratic republic," he said, adding, "For these achievements, the people's struggle of 2007 BS, the movement of 2046 BS, the people's war, the historic people's movement of 2062÷63 BS and the movements of the oppressed classes, castes, regions, genders and communities for justice had a decisive role.

Former Prime Minister Dahal has wished that the Democracy Day would inspire everyone to overcome the challenges of the country and achieve the latest possibilities.

He paid deep tributes to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the establishment of democracy and expressed high respect to all the warriors of the democratic movement. 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has extended best wishes on the occasion of the National Democracy Day.

Taking to the social networking site Facebook today, he extended best wishes to all democracy-loving Nepalis on this glorious and historic day.

"Falgun 7, today is the most epochal day in the lives of Nepalis, the day when we have elevated ourselves to the status of the citizen through sacrificial struggle," PM Oli.

Prime Minister Oli posted the national flag of Nepal along with the map of Nepal and wrote, "Emotional tributes and respect to the immortal martyrs including Shukraraj Shastri, Dharmabhakta Mathema, Dasharath Chand and Gangalal Shrestha who laid down their lives against the despotic rule".