UML demands for immediate announcement of polls

Kathmandu / Feb 16: The main opposition CPN-UML on Thursday reiterated that the government should immediately announce dates for local, provincial and federal elections so as to hold them by January 2018 as required by the Constitution.

Concluding its two-day politburo meeting at the party headquarters in Dhumbarahi today, the party said the government should also prepare all legal and structural mechanisms necessary for the elections.

“(The party) demands that the government announce dates for elections at three levels, formulate laws required for the elections, immediately implement the report of the Local Bodies Restructuring Commission, and form the Constituency Delineation Commission without any delay,” the first among 12 decisions endorsed by the meeting reads.

The party has commented that government was negligent in preparing the elections and warned that the failure to hold the polls on time would result in a serious constitutional crisis.

The party also clarified that the Constitution amendment bill tabled at the House by the government was against national interests and sentiments of the public. It reiterated that the government should withdraw the bill so as so create a better environment for the polls.

Concluding the meeting today, Oli directed the party leaders and cadres to make the party the largest in the electoral competitions.

Meanwhile, the party did not take any action against its Central Member Radha Krishna Mainali as demanded by various party leaders including senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal.

The meeting, however, acknowledged that some of his statements were false and illusionary.