KATHMANDU, April 12: The umbrella organizations of the local units have strongly opposed the registration of the revised statute amendment bill in the Legislature-Parliament.

Issuing a joint press statement on Wednesday, the National Association of VDCs in Nepal (NAVIN), the Municipality Association of Nepal (MuAN) and the Association of District Development Committees of Nepal (ADDCN) have criticized the decision of the government to endorse the constitution amendment bill saying that it would curtail the rights of the local units.

The organizations termed the decision of the government as undemocratic mentioning that the decision would discourage the local representatives at the time when the people are going to choose their local bodies after 19 years and would prohibit them to exercise the constitutional rights. They urged the stakeholders to withdraw the decision and to ensure that it will not be repeated again in upcoming days.

The associations have also demanded the government and the Legislature-Parliament to include chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Rural Municipalities and mayor and deputy mayor of the municipalities in the Electoral College to elect the member of the National Assembly.

They warned the government to correct the decision or to face the consequences as the former representatives will be compelled to protest against the step of the government.

The government on Tuesday had registered the constitution amendment bill in which it has proposed to remove chairperson, vice chairperson of rural municipalities and mayor and deputy mayor of the municipalities from the Electoral College to elect members of the National Assembly. As per the new bill, the Electoral College only includes the members of provincial assemblies.

 
• umbrella associations of local units
 
• constitution amendment bill