Kathmandu, May 28

Ruling parties today proposed in a five-party meeting that the second phase of local level polls slated for June 14 be put off by 8-10 days.

In a meeting held at Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s official residence, leaders of the ruling Nepali Congress and the CPN-Maoist Centre told the meeting that they were ready to defer the June 14 polls by 8-10 days, according to Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal leader Rajendra Mahato.

The ruling parties’ leaders also assured RJP-N leaders that they would seek amendment to election laws to address the concerns of RJP-N leaders. The RJP-N has demanded that it be registered with the Election Commission and given an election symbol. According to Mahato, the ruling parties also assured them that they would seek to vacate the Supreme Court’s May 26 order that stayed the government’s decision to increase  local levels in Madhes.

Mahato said PM Dahal told the meeting that he would try to address the RJP-N’s concerns so that they could participate in the second phase of local polls. “We have told the PM that we would respond to the government after seeing what it does to address our demands so as to create conducive environment for polls,” Mahato added.

Another RJP-N leader Rajkishor Yadav said ruling parties’ leaders told the meeting that the second phase of local polls would be meaningless without RJP-N’s participation. “Today’s meeting was positive. Even UML leaders were not very negative about our demands,” Yadav said, adding, “We’ll see what the government does to ensure our participation in the polls.”

Often the government agrees to do something and when the time comes to implement its assurance, the government does not fulfil its pledge,” Yadav said.

He said UML leaders were also positive about the ruling parties’ proposal to delay the polls by 10-15 days but their only concern was that monsoon could affect the turnout.

“NC President Deuba said the government would consult meteorologists and fix the new poll date.

According to a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the PM urged RJP-N leaders to participate in the second phase of local polls. He added that since the polls were round the corner, efforts to amend the constitution could be made after the polls, as there was no possibility of mustering two-third majority in favour of the bill before the polls.

The prime minister’s Political Adviser Chakrapani Khanal said the UML leaders were positive about proceeding with the constitution amendment bill after the second phase of polls.

Deputy parliamentary party leader of CPN-UML Subas Chandra Nembang said UML leaders told the meeting that the government could amend election laws to address the RJP-N concerns but they could not agree on the proposal to amend the constitution and to increase local levels in Tarai district before local polls.

RJP-N leaders have been demanding that the constitution be amended, false charges slapped against the party’s cadres be withdrawn, compensation be paid to those who lost their loved ones and properties during Madhes and Tharuhat movement and the number of local levels be increased in Madhes in proportion to the region’s population. The RJP-N has also demanded that it be registered with the EC and given an election symbol.