Kathmandu, August 22

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba today said that the election of local bodies should be held by mid mid-April at any cost by forging consensus among political parties.

“Since holding local bodies’ election is the first step of the implementation of the new constitution, it should be held by mid-April at any cost. It is imperative to hold local polls to clear the way for holding the other two polls — provincial and federal,” Deuba said while addressing the concluding ceremony of two-day gathering of NC’s district presidents. If local polls cannot be held in time, it might create problems in holding other polls, he said.

Stating that the NC’s strength in the Parliament was inadequate for it to become the majority party, Deuba underscored the need to forge consensus with other parties and to take the Madhes-based parties into confidence to create the environment for holding local polls.

“I want the local bodies to be given maximum rights, but giving rights is not sufficient and implementation is important,” Deuba said.

He said that the government should change the Terms of Reference of local bodies’ restructuring commission.

Deuba said that local polls could be held under the existing structure if consensus could be forged among the parties. As per the existing structure there are 217 municipalities and 3,197 Village Development Committees.

“If consensus cannot be forged on the existing structure, existing areas (Ilakas) can be determined as Village Councils. Even if consensus cannot be forged on this, the local polls should be held as per whatever the parties agree on,” Deuba said. There are more than 900 Ilakas. Four to five VDCs make up one Ilaka.

Meanwhile, the gathering of the district presidents concluded that the number of Village Councils — 565 — should be increased to match the number with the Ilakas.

Stating that the proposed number is impractical to make the local bodies accessible to people at the local level, they said that the restructuring commission should also focus on geography while determining the boundaries of local bodies.

The NC has called its parliamentary party meeting tomorrow to discuss the restructuring of local bodies.

“The suggestions of district presidents of all seven provinces and conclusion of the parliamentary party meeting will be taken to the Central Working Committee. After holding detailed discussion on it at the CWC, the party will come up with a specific view. Then, the Congress will hold talks with other parties to forge consensus,” said NC CWC member Gyanendra Bahadur Karki.