Kathmandu, January 12:

Political leaders said here today that constituent assembly (CA) polls will wipe out monarchy and transform Nepal into a republic.

“Be assured, CA polls will be held in June,” Deputy Prime Minister Amik Sherchan said, urging the people to give up all doubts and suspicions on the issue.

Speaking at a programme organised by the Dalit NGOs Federation of Nepal today, he said the outcome of the constituent assembly polls will be a loktantrik republic. Sherchan, however, conceded that the eight political parties (seven-party alliance and the Maoists) earlier made a mistake while fixing the dates for arms management because of which the deadline for it could not be met.

“The failure on our part was that we did not understand the UN process, which was lengthy,” he said.

CPN-UML standing committee member Bamdev Gautam said the constituent assembly polls will wipe out monarchy and result in the establishment of a republic. The monarch, Gautam said, will definitely “fall down”. “Even if the institution of monarchy remains after constituent assembly polls, people’s uprising will put an end to it within six months,” he added, warning that any party, which tries to save the monarchy, will be diminished along with it.

Gautam said there was no alternative to republican setup now. He also demanded that the interim legislature should pass a strong law that will bring to book those who encourage untouchability in the society.