KATHMANDU, Feb 11: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has assured the main opposition CPN-UML that the date for local level polls would be announced before the ongoing House session resumes on February 21.
During a meeting with main opposition party leader K P Sharma Oli held at the residence of CPN (Maoist Center) leader Narayankaji Shrestha in Lalitpur Friday, Prime Minister Dahal gave the assurance in response to the demand by UML leaders to first announce the local poll date. The prime minister had reiterated that the current government was committed to holding local polls at the earliest.
Poll date likely to be announced Saturday
Talking to Republica, Shrestha said the prime minister told Oli the government was preparing to announce the election date on the same day the task force reviewing the delineation of local units submits its report. The task force headed by Local Development Minister Hit Raj Pandey is scheduled to submit its report on February 19.
Prime Minister Dahal had asked Oli to support the constitution amendment process and help announce the election date at the earliest. “The prime minister also clarified that the government is planning to hold local polls before mid-May,” said Shrestha.
UML Vice Chairman Bhim Rawal, who accompanied Oli during his meeting with Dahal, said they dwelt on various issues, including constitution amendment, revision of province delineations and the outcomes of talks with agitating Madhes-based political parties. The UML leaders had maintained that the government should not tie up elections with the constitution amendment.
Rawal, who was speaking later at the Reporters’ Club, said the prime minister had assured them he would announce the poll date at the earliest. “However, we are not assured of this yet,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Bidya Bhandari is urging top party leaders to facilitate all three tiers of elections before the constitutional deadline of January, 2018. Dahal and Oli are scheduled to hold meetings with NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba.
