Kathmandu, December 31

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal assured the leaders of Untied Democratic Madhesi front he would announce civic polls only after the constitution amendment bill was passed.

The PM’s assurance came in his meeting with UDMF leaders at his official residence in Baluwatar.

General Secretary of Sadbhanwana Party Manish Kumar Suman informed THT that the PM told them he was one step ahead of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, who had assured them of ensuring passage of the constitution amendment bill, as he had said he would announce polls only after passage of the bill.

The main opposition CPN-UML and some fringe parties have been obstructing House proceedings since the government registered the statute amendment bill on November 29, demanding withdrawal of the bill.

Suman said the PM felt

that building conducive environment for polls was more important than announcing poll dates and unless the UDMF accepted the polls, real momentum for polls could not be built. “The PM’s assurance has made us very happy,” he said. He added that UDMF leaders told the

PM they were anxious after hearing rumour that the three major parties planned to postpone debate on the constitution amendment bill to hold polls and so they had decided yesterday to go against the polls if they were held without ensuring passage of the constitution amendment bill.

Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Republican Chair Rajkishor Yadav told THT the PM had said he was one step ahead of the NC in addressing the Madhesi forces’ demands.

“Although some leaders are pressurising me to announce the poll date, I don’t want to do so because unless you participate in the poll, it can’t be held,” Yadav quoted the PM.

The PM also told Madhesi leaders to seriously discuss what would be best  whether to hold polls to local bodies or local levels  because the UML leaders were saying different things on different occasions about the polls. According to Yadav, the PM also told the Madhesi leaders that the UML leaders were conspiring to end federalism.

The PM asked Madhesi leaders not to doubt his intention as he was committed to the coalition of three forces  the CPN-MC, Nepali Congress and Madhesi forces. “We need to maintain this coalition because if it breaks it will be bad for the country,” Yadav quoted the PM.

The PM also told Madhesi leaders that even if the polls were not held on time, he would not stay as PM beyond nine months for that was the agreement he had reached with the NC. “My only concern is that the constitution should be implemented and conducive environment for polls should be in place,” Yadav quoted the PM.

Meanwhile, the PM’s Secretariat issued a press release saying the PM’s meeting with UDMF leaders had decided to move ahead with the process of constitution amendment bill and hold all three types of polls.

According to a press release, the meeting also decided to fix the election schedule after moving the process of the constitution amendment bill.