Amendment, election process simultaneously: Dahal

Published On: February 18, 2017 02:51 AM NPT By: Republica  | @RepublicaNepal


KATHMANDU, Feb 18: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that he will work on election preparations and constitution amendment simultaneously.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the general convention of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) at Exhibition Road in the capital on Friday, Dahal said that both processes will be taken forward by forging wider political support.
 
Praising the RPP for its support in the promulgation of the constitution despite its reservations, Dahal urged the party to take responsible decision for the implementation of the new constitution.

“The process of constitution amendment and local elections will move ahead simultaneously. The government has been working to announce the local poll date within a few days,” he said. While extending congratulations to the party for holding the general assembly, Dahal said it has become urgent to conduct local, provincial and parliamentary elections by January 2018. Dahal was of the view that there had been an agreement among the leaders of the major political parties to address any grievances regarding the new constitution through amendments.

Addressing the RPP general convention, former prime minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba stressed the need for participation by all political parties in the upcoming elections. He also extended his best wishes to the RPP convention for its succes in coming up with a decision in favor of amending the constitution.
 
“The government has pushed the constitution amendment aiming to end the differences between Madhes and Pahad which should be endorsed from parliament,” said Deuba. 

Former Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-UML K P Oli urged the RPP to stand for nationalism and democracy more strongly. “The party has precedent of standing in favor of nationalism in the past. I wish the party will stand in favor of nationalism in the future as well,” said Oli. 
RPP Chairman Kamal Thapa said that the party will adopt democracy with constitutional monarchy as party line from the general convention. He also informed that the party will accept federalism despite having reservations.
 
Party senior leaders Prakash Chandra Lohani, Pashupati SJB Rana and Lokendra Bahadur Chand, leaders of various political representing in parliament, and leaders from Indian political parties also addressed the inaugural function.

The general convention is scheduled to conclude Monday electing party chairman and central committee for the next four years.

The first general convention of the fourth largest political party in parliament held after the unification between RPP and RPP-Nepal, is likely to elect Thapa as new chairman of the unified party.
 
Current Executive Chairman Kamal Thapa and National Chairman Prakash Chandra Lohani are contesting for party chair.

Though an agreement was forged among top leaders of the party two days ago to elect Thapa as party chairman unanimously, Lohani dismissed the agreement on Thursday morning accusing Thapa of working unilaterally by ignoring the agreements made during the time of party unification.

RPP has 37 lawmakers in parliament. 


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