Kathmandu, January 28

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development Kamal Thapa today said the government had begun preparations for holding local elections.

Thapa said the government had prepared the draft of the amendment to Local Self-Governance Act, 2055 BS and the Local Election Regulation, which were under consideration of the Development Committee of the Parliament.

During the meeting of the committee today, Thapa requested the parliamentarians to endorse the amendments without delay. The election of the local bodies is due since 1997. There are 217 municipalities and 3,157 VDCs in the country.

During the meeting, DPM Thapa shared that the ruling parties, including the Madhes-based parties, had forged consensus in this regard.

Thapa said a commission would be formed by mid-February for restructuring the local bodies in line with the new constitution.

Responding to queries from committee members on the ongoing Madhes agitation, he said talks with the agitating parties were moving in a positive directive and that a solution would be found in a day or two.

Committee members also urged the government to make utmost efforts to forge political consensus, implement federalism and develop basic infrastructures.

Similarly, during the meeting, chairperson of the committee Rabindra Adhikari assured full cooperation in removing legal complexities for holding local elections.

Likewise, Secretary at the Ministry of Local Development Madhav Prasad Regmi informed the committee that seven commissions had been formed as per the new constitution to formulate necessary Acts and review the organizational structures of local bodies in the changed context.