Kathmandu, December 15

The CPN-UML today said it was in favour of holding parliamentary polls before civic polls in order to remove possibility of constitutional vacuum that may arise due to the government’s failure to hold local polls.

The UML, however, made it clear that the party was not against holding civic polls first in principle but since chances of holding such polls are slim, the government should conduct parliamentary elections first, said UML Secretary Pradip Gyawali.

The standing committee meeting of the principal opposition party held today at its central office in Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu, concluded that parliamentary polls were essential to end ongoing political stalemate and potential constitutional vacuum.

“Chances of holding all three elections within one year are very slim. So we have decided to ask the parties to go for parliamentary polls first,” Gyawali added.

He said vacuum would be created if the parliamentary polls could not be held within the constitutional deadline. As per the constitution, local, provincial and parliamentary polls should be held before January 22, 2018.

According to Gyawali, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba had expressed doubt in a recent trilateral meeting about chances of holding all three elections before January 22, 2018.

Deuba had told UML Chair KP Sharma Oli that holding civic polls under old structure would be the best option since the Local Bodies Restructuring Commission had not yet furnished its report and the Madhesi parties had been protesting in Province 2, according to Gyawali.

“There is confusion among the ruling parties and the government about elections. So we want the Constituency Delimitation Commission to delimit constituencies for parliamentary polls,” Gyawali stated.

He added that the UML had been consulting the Madhesi parties informally in that regard. The standing committee meeting has decided to continue discussion with the political parties to end the stalemate.

The meeting also decided to continue House obstruction unless the government withdrew the constitution amendment bill registered in the Parliament.

The UML and seven fringe parties have been obstructing the House after the government registered the controversial bill on November 29.

Meanwhile, CPN-Maoist Centre Leader Agni Sapkota said demand for parliamentary polls was a ploy to abort all the achievements made by the parties through long and arduous struggles.

“Our party will not agree to the UML’s proposal,” said Sapkota. He claimed that the government has been preparing to hold civic polls.

Sadbhawana Party Chair Rajendra Mahato said the UDMF wanted amendment to the constitution before holding any poll.

An informal meeting of the UDMF yesterday decided to boycott and disrupt civic polls if they were held without ensuring the passage of a revised constitution amendment bill.