Kathmandu, February 10:

Former ministers, representing the Lokendra Bahadur Chand-led cabinet, today said the effort of the seven-party alliance and the Maoists to scuttle the municipal polls has failed.

Former minister and president of Hariyali Party Nepal, Kuber Sharma said: “Their (seven-party alliance and the Maoists) efforts to disrupt the polls have failed.”

Referring to the results coming in favour of Home Minister Kamal Thapa’s Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Sharma said he smelt rat in the electorate process.

He, however, declined to elaborate when asked whether he noticed any irregularities in the election and the vote counting process. “I don’t want to comment on that, but now I am clear why the seven-party alliance are insisting on going to power to hold elections.”

Speaking at an interaction at Media Group, Nepal here today, on the contrary, he said the municipal elections have failed to gain international support because of the low turn out.

The former minister, also a chartered accountant, Sharma advised the King to take what he said, special initiatives, to boost up the country’s declining economy.

Former minister Gore Bahadur Khapangi argued that the municipal elections have given a basis for the upcoming general elections.

Saying that the King has been making efforts to hand over the power to the people’s representatives as soon as possible, Khapangi criticised the seven-party alliance for trying to create disturbances in the country.

Referring to some of the political leader’s phone lines being disconnected, Khapangi said, “The State has every right to withdraw any service and facility provided to anyone who is going against the interest of the country.”

Acting president of Nationalist Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Jasuda Pradhan said people defied the party’s call to disrupt the polls by casting their votes.