KATHMANDU, June 15: While asking all the political parties, civil society members and the general public to extend support to the government to hold fresh election on the stipulated date, Chairman of Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi has announced that all hurdles related to holding poll in November were resolved.
In his address to the nation on Friday, Chairman Regmi said the main objective of the government is to hold election in free and fair manner by ensuring maximum participation of adult citizens. ´Now election date has been fixed. Necessary laws relating to the election have been already brought and the voter"s registration work is nearing completion. The only thing required now [for holding elections] is our commitment,´ said Regmi. [break]
He mentioned that President Dr Ram Baran Yadav had already endorsed the Constituent Assembly Member Election Ordinance 2070 and Election Constituency Delineation Commission had been formed to delineate election constituencies in line with the census held in 2011 for the election purpose.
The remarks of Chairman Regmi came a day after the government announced November 19 as the date for holding fresh CA election. ´Impartiality and neutrality are the only ideals in my life and I won"t compromise on these at any cost. My only objective now is to hold Constituent Assembly election in free and fair manner,´ he said.
Regmi said the government had given special focus on good governance, transparency, controlling corruption and ensuring effective peace and security situation and people-centric mobilization of administrative mechanisms to create election-friendly environment.
In his televised address to the nation, Chairman Regmi also made special request to the agitating parties that are opposed to elections to come to negotiating table to resolve their demands and help conduct the polls in free and fair manner. ´I make special request to political parties to help create election-friendly environment by holding talks with each other to resolve their political differences,´ he said.
While brushing aside allegations from various quarters including the agitating parties that he was influencing even the judiciary, Regmi clarified that he had completely dissociated himself from his role as chief justice and had focused only on his role as the head of the executive body. ´In my conduct and my work performance, I have been as impartial as I used to be while serving as chief justice. But in terms of my work, duty and powers, I have dissociated myself from all my judicial roles including in judicial administration and justice delivery,´ he said.
Stating that he accepted the post of chairman of the election government under special circumstances out of his duty and responsibility toward the nation and people, Regmi said he is always committed to ensuring the principle of separation of powers. ´The fundamental principle of separation of powers is that a single person or agency should not exercise different kinds of power and all work of the executive should be subject to check and balance by the judiciary. Since I have separated myself from all judicial roles, I urge everyone not to harbor any doubts about this,´ he further said.
While asking lawyers, media persons and civil society to play leading role to help create awareness among citizens about the election, Chairman Regmi also requested political parties to participate in the election with the objective of securing people"s votes through a healthy competition. Regmi also thanked all friendly countries, diplomatic missions and international community for their continued support to the government"s endeavor to hold elections.
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HLPC to hold talks with dissenting parties
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, June 14
Political parties represented in the High-level Political Committee (HLPC) have decided to hold talks with agitating parties including the alliance led by CPN-Maoist and Madhesi People"s Rights Forum-Nepal.
A meeting of the HLPC held on Friday morning decided to hold talks with the agitating parties to bring them on board the election process ´at any cost´, said CPN-UML leader Raghuji Panta after the meeting.
Panta said the meeting also urged all the dissenting political parties that are opposed to election to participate in the CA election by keeping aside their differences as there is no alternative to CA election for the promulgation of a new constitution.
The HLPC meeting also welcomed the decision of the government to hold CA election on November 19 and asked all political parties to engage actively in the election process, according to Panta.
This meeting was the last under the coordination of Chairman Khanal as the body is headed for one month each by the top leaders of the four parties by turns. Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar, who is coordinator of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), will head the HLPC from Saturday.
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