KATHMANDU, Oct 11: President Ramchandra Paudel has urged political parties to actively participate in the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) election, calling it the only way to safeguard the country, people, democracy and the constitution.
Addressing party leaders including Prime Minister Sushila Karki and cabinet ministers at an all-party meeting held in Sheetal Niwas on Friday, President Paudel stressed that elections scheduled for March 5 are the sole option to resolve the ongoing political crisis. He urged the government to ensure peace and security so that polls can be held in a free, fair and fearless environment.
According to his Press Adviser Kiran Pokharel, President Paudel warned that searching for alternatives beyond elections would put the nation at greater risk. He also asked political parties not to create confusion among citizens and assured that the demands of Generation Z protesters would be addressed.
EC urges govt to ensure poll security
Prime Minister Karki said the government was committed to conducting impartial elections, noting that polls cannot be held without the participation of all political parties. She added that the frustrations expressed by young protesters must be understood and their concerns accommodated.
Leaders from major political parties including Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), CPN (Unified Socialist), Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP), JSP-Nepal, Janamat Party, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, Nagarik Unmukti Party and Nepal Workers and Peasants Party were present in the meeting.
Talking to journalists after the meeting, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel said the dialogue with political parties had set the country firmly on the path to elections.
“The government is advancing towards elections while addressing the key demands of Generation Z and is also working to meet their other concerns,” he said. “Since no political party has expressed unwillingness to participate, a conducive environment for polls has been created.” He added that the Election Commission has already prepared its timetable and moved ahead with preparations.
Dismissing concerns over the morale of security agencies, Kharel said the security bodies had made it clear that the confidence of their personnel remained intact. He further asserted that the environment created by the President, along with commitments from political parties and the government, had made elections certain.
“With the government, political parties, the President and security forces all aligned, the deadlock has ended and dialogue has begun. The country, the people, political parties and Generation Z are now moving together towards elections,” he said.
