KATHMANDU: Newly appointed Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development, Hitraj Pandey, said he was confident that the local elections would be held in March-April next year.

Addressing journalists at an interaction programme in Kathmandu on Thursday, Minister Pandey said that the government was planning to hold the elections by mid-April if the Election Commission completed preparations within mid-October this year.

Saying that conducting elections was necessary to implement the Constitution and to provide relief and support to the earthquake survivors on time, Pandey also made it clear that the government was carrying out its responsibilities with the mission of holding the local, provincial and federal elections by January 2018 as mentioned in the Constitution.

In the interaction, Pandey also claimed that the government so far had been meeting expectations of the people.

"We have directed the National Reconstruction Authority to provide the earthquake survivors with the first instalment the relief amount within 45 days of first Cabinet meeting," he added, "The NRA is serious about it."

Meanwhile, Minister Pandey also claimed that the government would resolve all political problems including concerns of Madhesi parties through dialogues. He also added that the government would forward the Constitution Amendment Bill to address demands of the United Democratic Madhesi Front.