Kathmandu, December 16

Naya Shakti Nepal Coordinator Baburam Bhattarai and Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Chair Mahantha Thakur today met Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and urged him to hold local polls only after ensuring passage of a revised constitution amendment bill.

According to Bhattarai’s Personal Aide Bishwadeep Pandey, Bhattarai told the PM that they were hearing that the government was preparing to hold polls under old structure which did not give a good impression about the government.

“Bhattarai told the prime minister that it would be good for the government it held local polls only after ensuring passage of a revised constitution amendment bill,” Pandey added. Bhattarai also told the PM that the government should make efforts to forge consensus of maximum members in the Parliament.

The two leaders’ meeting with the PM comes in the backdrop of an informal understanding between the NSN and the United Democratic Madhesi Front to launch a joint stir if the government held local polls without ensuring passage of the constitution amendment bill.

The CPN-UML and some fringe opposition parties have been stalling House proceedings to block debates on the bill.

Pandey said the PM assured both leaders that he would hold dialogue with NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba and other Madhesi leaders possibly tomorrow to discuss the matter.