NC against civic polls under existing structures

Kathmandu, May 9

The Nepali Congress, which is the main opposition party, today demanded that the civic polls be held only after restructuring the local bodies in accordance with the new constitution after forging political consensus.

Holding of local bodies’ elections by December under existing structures of local bodies, as proposed by the government, cannot be justified, stated the NC.

Since a commission is working to restructure the local bodies as per the new constitution, conducting civic polls under the old structure is meaningless and the local polls should be held under the new structure following the commission’s report, stated the NC in an amendment proposal registered at Legislature Parliament Secretariat by NC lawmakers, including Ramesh Lekhak.

The proposal was registered seeking amendment to the Vote of Thanks Motion tabled yesterday in the House for extending thanks to President Bidhya Devi Bhandari for presenting the government’s policy and programme.

The NC lawmakers’ demand comes at a time when the government announced local bodies’ polls by December.

President Bhandari had announced, in the government’s policy and programme presented yesterday at the Parliament, that the civic polls would be held in November/December under the transitional provision (existing structures of local bodies).

The document states that holding the polls under the transitional provision is imperative, as it will take some time to determine number and boundary and legal basis of local bodies as per federal structure.

The local bodies have remained without people’s representatives for the last 14 years, as the governments didn’t hold the civic polls during the period, citing political instability and transition.

It has been seven months since the new constitution was promulgated and formation of federation, provinces and local bodies as envisaged in the new constitution is the key aspect of implementation of the statute, states the amendment proposal.

“Since, the existing number and boundaries of the local bodies will not exist after the commission makes new demarcation within one year of its formation, holding of local polls as per existing number and boundaries of the local bodies cannot be justified,” states the proposal.

The NC lawmakers also demanded that the new constitution be implemented after addressing the concerns of disgruntled groups and the Tarai movement.

Stating that the implementation of policy and programme and budget was the major challenge, Congress lawmakers demanded that the proposal should ensure an effective implementation system.

Two lawmakers  Prem Suwal and Anuradha Thapa Magar  of the Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party and Ram Kumar Rai of Khumbuwan Rastriya Morcha Nepal also registered their amendment proposals at the Parliament Secretariat today.

Agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front’s leaders have also said the local bodies’ polls cannot be held in the existing conditions.

“As the parties in the government are not making any attempt to address the concerns related to boundaries of federal units, the local polls cannot be held.

We will not let the polls be held until our concerns are addressed,” said Sadbhawana Party Co-chair Laxman Lal Karna.