During a meeting with UCPN(Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Saturday, Chairman Regmi said an election environment was being fostered in the country, especially following the announcement of the poll date of November 19. “Now the political parties need to take further initiatives to help arouse the enthusiasm of the people towards polls,” Regmi´s press advisor, Bimal Gautam, quoted him as saying to Dahal. [break]
On the occasion, Dahal said that his party had mobilized its leaders and cadres across the country to create an election environment and that the parties would do the needful the make the November 19 poll a success. Regmi and Dahal discussed in detail the latest political developments, ongoing preparations for elections and the efforts made so far to bring the agitating parties onboard the election process, Gautam said.
Earlier, the political parties represented in the High Level Political Committee had held separate parleys with the parties that have stood against holding elections under the Regmi-led poll government. While the Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Nepal (MPRF-N) and Federal Socialist Party have stood in favor of elections provided some of their demands are met, the leaders of the major parties had concluded that they were not quite sure if the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist would really join the election process.
Fresh appeal for CPN-Maoist to join poll
The government on Saturday made a fresh appeal to the agitating CPN-Maoist to come to the negotiating table and resolve their demands.
A press statement issued by Minister for Information and Communications Madhav Prasad Poudel, who is also the government´s spokesperson, appealed to the CPN-Maoist to immediately come into negotiations with the government and resolve their demands through talks.
The appeal comes in the wake of the CPN-Maoist holding its central committee meeting starting Saturday to decide whether to participate in the polls or actively boycott it.
Minister Poudel has asked all political parties, civil society, media and people in general to help the government in its endeavor to hold free, fair and credible elections. Stating that the government is holding both formal and informal talks with all agitating parties to address their poll concerns, Poudel said in the statement that there have not been any talks with the CPN-Maoist despite repeated attempts by the government.
“Since any problem in the country could be resolved through talks and negotiations, the government again urges the CPN-Maoist and other parties affiliated with the alliance led by it to eventually come for talks, negotiations and consultations to resolve their issues concerning the Constituent Assembly election and other concurrent political issues,” added the statement.
Related story
Regmi, Upreti discuss poll preparations
