Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, January 25:

Assistant Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Bhim Kumari Buda, today said that in case of leaders not daring to go to their constituencies to campaign and not contesting in the polls out of fear, there will be other people to take their places.

Speaking at the Reporters’ Club here, Buda, who represents the Nepali Congress (D) in the coalition, said: “In case of anyone not daring to face the polls, the parties will always find other people who don’t mind contesting.”

Refusing to admit that the time to organise elections is not right, she said that the government is announcing poll soon. “Elections are very much on the cards. Take it for granted,” Buda said, adding that there are many instances of polls being organised in violence-hit countries.

The fact that the government is announcing elections was also reinforced by two other ministers. “I am sure all the democrats will agree to the expediency of holding elections,” Minister of State for Science and Technology, Pratibha Rana, said. “One cannot imagine a democratic process without elections.”

“Instead of asking whether or not we should go for polls, we should be asking ourselves how long can we remain without the House of Representatives,” Minister of Land Reforms and Management, Jog Meher Shrestha, said.

Earlier, speakers were divided on the issue of elections with those representing the four-party alliance spearheaded by the NC suggesting conditional reinstatment of the House of Representatives. However CPN-UML leader, Urmila Aryal, said House revival could be the best option.