Phidim, November 16:

A central member of the Nepali Congress, Dr Shekhar Koirala, said today that the leftist parties will not be able to effect a change in the government even if they decide to opt for street agitations.

Speaking at the inauguration of a five-day training on basic journalism, organised by the Panchthar district chapter of the Nepal Press Union, Dr Koirala said the issues of all indigenous, hill, and plains communities should be resolved to hold the CA polls by Chaitra-end in 2065 BS.

Warning that chaos will prevail in the country if the polls are not held by then, Dr Koirala urged the seven parties to reach a 12-year pact for holding joint programmes to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the nation. He described as unethical the CPN-UML’s assent to the Maoist proposals to declare the nation a republic and hold fully proportional polls.

“UML and Maoist leaders are indulging in demagogy and calling for change in the government.

Is it possible? They should think responsibly before resorting to theatrics,” said Dr Koirala. Without a two-thirds majority vote in parliament, there can be no change in the government, he said. Dr Koirala called for setting up a state re-construction commission, a probe panel to locate the whereabouts of the missing, management of Maoist cantonments and rehabilitation of the displaced.

He urged the government and the Maoists to honour commitments they made during the signing of the peace treaty.