RPP-N pitches strongly for fresh elections

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal has dared the four political forces — the Unified CPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and United Democratic Madhesi Front — to face new elections and claimed that it would win popular mandate to establish its two major agendas — revival of constitutional monarchy and establishment of Hindu state.

Addressing a mass gathering at the open air theatre in the Capital today, RRP-N Chairman Kamal Thapa threatened to reinstate the deposed monarch to Narayanhiti if other political parties tried to hatch conspiracy to avert polls. The pro-royalist leader argued that the then Constituent Assembly’s decision to abolish monarchy remained no longer valid after CA’s dissolution without delivering a new constitution. Pitching strongly for fresh polls, thapa said the 1990 constitution would be restored through street protests if parties tried to prevent fresh elections from taking place.

He added that the 12-point agreement and the political roadmap prepared on the basis of it after 2006 movement had also lost the relevance in the changed context. The royalist leader demanded formation of a new unity government under the leadership of either a former or incumbent chief justice. “We have emerged as a new force. Any political consensus should have the consent of all the new forces or else we will not accept it,” Thapa warned. Besides Thapa, other RPP-N leaders also spoke at the programme.

Party’s central committee member Chandra Bahadur Gurung said Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai had telephoned him yesterday urging him not to raise the issue of the deposed king. “But I refused; I said if I don’t, millions of Nepalis are there to call for it,” he said.