Kathmandu, January 4

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari today suggested to office bearers of the Election Commission to hold discussion with political parties if they were under pressure from the parties to announce parliamentary proportional representation election results.

During a meeting at the Office of the President, Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhi Prasad Yadav and other commissioners complained that they were under intense pressure from political parties as well as their sister wings

to announce election results, according to the president’s Chief Personal Secretary Bhesh Raj Adhikari.

“The president suggested to EC officials to hold discussion with parties to ease tensions,” said Adhikari.

In a statement issued after the meeting, the EC said the president thanked the EC office bearers for successfully holding provincial and parliamentary elections. “The president suggested that the EC announce poll results as per the constitution and pave the way for government formation respecting the people’s verdict,” said EC Spokesperson Navaraj Dhakal in the statement.

The president also inquired who the EC would submit provincial PR election results and who would administer the oath of office and secrecy to elected provincial assembly members.

In their reply, the EC officials said they would abide by the constitutional provisions while discharging their duties. They also said they could not reveal the results of parliamentary PR election until the National Assembly was constituted, according the statement.

Earlier, leaders of the left alliance (comprising the CPN-UML and the CPN-Maoist Centre) had visited the EC demanding immediate announcement of parliamentary PR election results. Sister wings of these parties have also taken to the streets demanding immediate announcement of parliamentary PR election results.

EC commissioners Narendra Dahal, Ishwori Prasad Paudel, Sudhir Kumar Shah and EC Secretary Begendra Raj Sharma were also at the meeting.