KATHMANDU, Jan 22: Major three political parties have agreed in principle on holding local level elections in the fourth week of April, 2017.
The agreement was reached at a meeting of top leaders of the main three political parties called by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Saturday evening in a bid to create a favorable environment politically, legally and in terms of security to organize the local level elections at the earliest.
The meeting also dwelt on discussions between party leaders on whether to go for local level elections based on the report of the Local Body Restructuring Commission or as per the previous structure of the local bodies.
However, the participating Nepali Congress and Madhes-based political parties said the report given by the commission in regard to local body elections would not implement in its present structure.
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The parties also agreed to take initiative to pass the bill related to local bodies, which is under consideration at the Parliamentary committee, through short process. Whereas, the Election Commission has been suggesting that laws related to election should be formulated giving a time of at least 120 days from the date of announcing the election date.
Talking briefly to media persons, CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli said that positive discussion was held.
Similarly, CPN (UML) Vice-Chairman Bhim Bahadur Rawal said that the discussion was held on how to declare the date for the elections and constitution implementation.
He said, "An understanding has been reached in principle to declare the election date immediately. Positive discussion was held on how to hold the election in a practical manner."
To the question what should be done with the constitution amendment proposal, he said his party has called for putting off or withdrawing the proposal for going for the election but the Nepali Congress and the Maoist Centre had taken stance to getting it passed.
Maoist Centre spokesperson Pampha Bhusal who was present in the meeting said an understanding has been reached according to which the government would announce the date for local level election to have it conducted by mid-May this year. She said the parties have also agreed to hold separate talks on other issues including the demand of the disgruntled Madhesi Front and indigenous nationalities communities regarding increasing the ratio of proportion of representation based on population.
Making it clear that the issue of giving them some seats in the 'electoral vote' would be resolved at the political level itself, spokesperson Bhusal said the meeting also held discussions on topics as constitution amendment, giving full shape to the Election Commission and making overall preparations.
Party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bimalendra Nidhi from the Nepali Congress, party chairman Oli, vice-chairman Rawal and standing committee member Subas Nembang from the CPN (UML), Prime Minister and party chairman Dahal and leaders Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Ram Bahadur Thapa and Bhusal from the Maoist Centre were present in the meeting. RSS
