Kathmandu, October 10

The CPN-UML today warned the government against postponing the upcoming provincial and parliamentary elections slated for November 26 and December 7.

The standing committee meeting of the principal opposition party held at its parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar today also warned the government against Cabinet reshuffle.

UML Vice-chair Bhim Rawal said postponement of polls would jeopardise democratic norms and values. “Elections will become uncertain if the government postpones them,” said Rawal. He said the election code of conduct clearly prohibited the government from reshuffling the Cabinet and the Election Commission had already asked the government to rectify its decision expanding the Cabinet.

Rawal said the meeting demanded that the government ensure free, fair and impartial elections in the stipulated dates.

Rawal further said that the left alliance of the UML, CPN-Maoist Centre and Naya Shakti Party-Nepal were all prepared for provincial and parliamentary elections. The meeting also decided to finalise allocation of seats in provincial and the parliamentary assemblies among the parties in the left alliance. The meeting has also decided to give continuity to discussion on including other like-minded parties in left alliance.

Meanwhile, a meeting of top leaders of the CPN-UML and the CPN-Maoist Centre held at the UML parliamentary party office at Singha Durbar earlier in the day discussed the process of the National Assembly’s formation and election modality.

The leaders have agreed to move ahead with a common concept for the National Assembly election, according to CPN-MC leader Ram Narayan Bidari, who participated in the meeting.

The meeting also concluded that the government could not reshuffle the Cabinet. The leaders also held consultations with legal experts on the issue during the meeting, Bidari said.

UML Chair KP Oli, UML Vice-chair Bam Dev Gautam, CPN-MC Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, CPN-MC leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha and former attorney general Raman Shrestha attended the meeting.