Kathmandu, June 16

CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel said the government’s decision to defer the second phase of local polls in Province 2 was against democratic norms.

At a press meet organised by Press Chautari Nepal in Kathmandu today, Pokharel said that the decision was against the norms of constitution and democratic process and that the move should be protested by the people.

He alleged that the government made the move to either extend the tenure of the Parliament or dissolve the institution with repeated deferrals of polls.

Pokharel said that the government arbitrarily took the decision, as it did not consult the main opposition. He added that nothing could justify the postponement of the elections at a time when the Election Commission and security agencies had completed preparations for the polls and when the people were eagerly waiting to cast their vote.

He also said that his party had finalised the name for mayoral post in the Biratnagar metropolis, adding that his party was, however, ready for electoral alliance with other parties for the deputy mayoral post.