Talking to Republica, NC leader Ram Chandra Paudel said that the issue should have been discussed among parties before the Ministry of Local Development dissolved the mechanism in line with the directive from the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). [break]
“We had proposed the Maoists last March to hold the election of the local bodies but they turned a deaf ear,” said Paudel, “We are concerned that the decision was taken without consulting other political parties and finalizing alternatives,” said Paudel.
Local Development Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi dissolved the mechanism on Tuesday, respecting a week-old directive of the CIAA that found the mechanism plagued by rampant anomalies.
“All political parties should be held responsible for the anomalies. But as the Maoist leaders had headed the mechanism, the UCPN (Maoist) party should be held more responsible,” said Paudel.
CPN-UML leader Bhim Rawal said the party has taken the dismissal of the mechanisms seriously but said they are more focused on issues relating to the constitution making and the peace process. “Once these issues are finalized, we will discuss the issue of local bodies,” said Rawal. He stated that dissolving the all-party mechanism will not ensure good governance at the local bodies.
“Running of local bodies by bureaucrats does not guarantee good governance,” he said.
Meanwhile, the government is making preparations to form a new mechanism to run the local governments.
“The MoLD is considering various alternatives to run the local bodies,” said Rayamajhi at the Reporters´ Club Nepal on Wednesday afternoon, adding, “We will come up with an appropriate alternative within 8-10 days after holding discussions with all political parties.”
However, he opined that holding election of the local bodies would be the best solution to the issue.
Defending the government move to dissolve the local bodies, Rayamajhi said, “It was not necessary to hold talks among political parties as the mechanisms were not formed in consultation with other parties.”
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