KATHMANDU, Feb 14: With the constitutional deadline to hold three tiers of elections fast approaching and the political parties still divided over amending the constitution, President Bidya Devi Bhandari has asked the chiefs of the seven main political parties in parliament to concentrate on holding the poll. 

In a written speech in the presence of the senior leaders of political parties that have more than 10 lawmakers in parliament, President Bhandari asked the political parties to waste no time going to election as time is running short to hold three elections by January 2018.

"The responsibility to hold election did not arise accidentally. This is the constitutional provision made following intense discussion in the course of drafting the constitution. There is no alternative to election to take the country ahead," the president said.
 
While terming the implementation of the constitution promulgated by the people's representatives as historic achievement, she asked the parties not to deprive the people of their constitutional right to periodic elections. The president also highlighted the need for holding the three elections to effectively implement the constitution.
 
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN-UML Chairman K P Oli, RPP Chairman Kamal Thapa, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Chairman Mahanta Thakur, Madhesi People's Rights Forum (Demoratic) Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar were among those present in the meeting. 

 
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