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Govt authorised to hold elections‚ claims PM

Added At: 2012-05-28 2:14 AM

Last Updated At: 2012-05-28 2:14 AM

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HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, after briefing President Dr Ram Baran Yadav of the government’s decision to hold fresh CA elections, organised a press conference at his residence late in the evening to justify government’s decision to hold fresh elections.

He said the government tried to save the CA from dissolution but since the Supreme Court stayed the government’s bid to extend the tenure of the CA by three months, the government had no option but to declare fresh CA elections. The PM said his government had the authority to hold fresh elections as per November 25 verdict of the apex court. “We explored several options but the only prudent step was to hold fresh elections,” PM Bhattarai said.

Asked how the President reacted on the Cabinet decision, the PM said he would receive the President’s acknowledgment in due course of time. He claimed that the executive powers rested with the Cabinet as per the Interim Constitution and the same Cabinet would exercise those powers and hold fresh elections for the CA. Asked if he feared the repeat of Rookmangud Katawal episode, the PM said he did not think that kind of incident would repeat. “The Interim Constitution has categorically mentioned the powers of each body and I think all the bodies would abide by the constitution,” the PM clarified.

The PM said the CA failed to frame a new constitution because the old forces and the status quoists, who did not want to move ahead of 1990 constitution, did not support a forward-looking constitution. “These political forces did not want to move ahead even an inch on federalism. Federalism was not even in their dictionary,” the PM said. He added that the UCPN-M and UDMF pressed either for 14 pradeshes as recommended by the CA’s thematic committee or 10 pradeshes as recommended by State Restructuring Commission but the old forces did not accept any of those proposals. “Neither did they forge consensus, nor did they let the unsettled issues to be put to the vote in the CA,” had the PM lamented.

The PM was of the view that the people would give two-third majority to those forces who would reflect the aspirations of the people.

The PM said his party and the government took huge risk to complete the peace process. “Those who harped on completion of the peace process before the completion of constitution draft were just making a pretext,” the PM said.

Meanwhile, UML ministers Ishwor Pokhrel and Radha Gyawali, who had boycotted Cabinet meeting because of differences over the fresh elections, later tendered their resignations. Another Minister Eknath Dhakal and Parshuram Khapung also said they objected the government proposal to hold fresh elections for a new CA.

Maoist hardliner faction has also opposed the government’s decision to hold fresh CA election, said Dev Prasad Gurung.

Decision protested

Kathmandu: Top leaders of Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Broader Madhesi Front led by Upendra Yadav met President Dr Ram Baran Yadav 10 minutes before the Constituent Assembly term expired at midnight. “We told the President that the government declared elections in a conspiring way and it is politically unacceptable and is unconstitutional as there is no provision in the Interim constitution to hold fresh CA elections,” said Congress leader Laxman Ghimire. The leaders also urged the President to begin the process of forming a national consensus government, as the PM’s legality and legitimacy ended on Sunday. The President will consult lawyers before deciding.

Comments⁵

Posted on: 2012-05-28 10:14:49

Is Nepal ready for democracy? People seem to blame political parties and the CA assembly members for not being able to deliver. If I am not wrong they were elected by the people. Democracy is supposed to work best in a scenario where people know what is best for them and for the country. Every time the elected body in any country is dysfunctional it represents the situation of the population who elected them. I would like to thank Dr. Bhattarai for taking it to the public, rather than settling it among the corrupt politicians. Let us hope the people can look towards a bigger picture for the betterment of the country. Let us hope they can get rid of petty differences and do what is right. Until the Nepalese population does not make a decision keeping their country before political affiliation, ethnicity, personal gains, the government and the elected body will remain dysfunctional. Aman, bkt

Posted on: 2012-05-28 10:03:24

CA is already dissolved at 12pm 27May. As Mr.Baburam spoke after 12pm, he is already disabled from constitution, therefore his action should not be accepted by gov. Now, it is up to President. Sandeep Kumar Gautam, Kathmandu

Posted on: 2012-05-28 06:49:33

If it is to happen so then the election should be made after reducing members of CA. Other wise the things will remain same in and after every elections and definitely our country will get poor day by day. Manish, Rautahat

Posted on: 2012-05-28 06:31:38

hahahhahah, moderator approved comments, i suppose you are the moderators of 'free speech' .... wow, this country is going down the tubes like every other 'democracy' in the world... no need to post my comment, im sure you will deem it 'inappopriate' V, Ktm

Posted on: 2012-05-28 06:30:04

These guys (like all governments in the world) are the biggest pack of criminals/mafia your country has and will ever see. Fresh elections? More like, fresh bullsh1t... When are you going to wake up Nepal? The government doesn't care about you, the government will not come to an agreement over the constitution because by extending and playing games they are slowly achieving their own agendas without the Nepali peoples consent by keeping you continuously pre-occupied with superficial issues. It is clear to see that the larger and more influential corporations of Nepal (Nepal oil corporation in particular) and your government are simply in the pockets of the Indians. Has any past government helped you? Do you think any future government will help you? It is clear throughout history, whether its communism, democracy, or any type of government, it turns into a corpororate fascist dictatorship, whether it appears friendly or not. Looking to a bunch of old greedy old men who just want power and money will never achieve what you want in this country, because the only things achieved is what 'they' want. You think your vote counts? It is quite clear that after so many years of not achieving anything (i.e. constitution) your vote means sh1t to these people, they will do what they want, and give you any number of pathetic excuses to keep on their own game. Elections and voting is the governments way of giving you the idea that your choice/opinion counts - well, IT DOESNT. So what do elections achieve? They function by giving you false hope, false hope in the sense that you think things can change by having your 'voice' heard in the next election - all it does is that it keeps you participating and actively empowering the people in government. Without 'YOU' - THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO POWER! Stop giving it to them, stop supporting them or their fraudulent elections. You do not need a government Nepal, governments don't fix problems - THEY CREATE THEM! Help each other, love eachother, stop placing all your faith and hopes in set of people who don't give a sh1t about you. Stop putting pressure on eachother with doing strikes which only hurt the local people, STRIKE BY NON-COOPERATION with your criminal government, stop supporting them financially by NOT PAYING TAX - its bad enough you're so dependent on larger corporate structure for gas, fuel and electricity..Stop supporting your 'government' by not paying taxes, not participating in voting, and non-participation of political systems; use that energy time and money (tax) to support your local communities and eachother, instead of filling the pockets of does who basically wish to turn you into 'obedient workers' - which is a euphemism for SLAVERY You are a beautiful country Nepal, filled with beautiful people - stop supporting your government(s), whether it is this one or the next, or the one after that - they will not help you. Move beyond your caste boundaries and political ideals, move back to simple human ideals - help and develop your local communities and eachother, stop believing in those ideals (political, caste, religious based) that separate and divide you from being what you simply are; HUMAN BEINGS. A class/caste/politically divided society is easy to rule and control, for a divided society based on these ideals of division will always be at war with itself. Please WAKE UP Nepal, become independent of any leadership/dictatorship before it is too late, you, as one of very few countries in the world, have an opportunity for this - a government free country. V, Ktm

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