Biratnagar, December 21:

General secretary of the CPN (UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal today called on all to put pressure on Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to hold constituent assembly polls by mid-April.

Talking to the media persons at Biratnagar airport today, he alleged that Prime Minister Koirala’s age and illness are taking toll on the nation’s future.

It’s the need of the hour that we all put pressure on the PM to hold the polls on time or else the nation would plunge into uncertainty, he said.

Saying that his party is not for change of guard in the government, Nepal said, “Our basic stand is for holding the poll on time and reviving peace in the country.”

Claiming that he is not racing to win the PM’s post, he said the urgent issue now is to hold the poll on time.

When queried about the cabinet reshuffle, Nepal said the chance for a reshuffle before the polls was least possible. Saying that the process for integration of PLA soldiers with the Nepal Army is progressing, he said that a minister-level committee will soon be formed and the same committee will deal with it.

Speaking at a workshop organised by Democratic Limbu Federation in Dharan, Sunsari, Nepal said people were not convinced that polls would be held even by mid-April. He blamed NC and Maoists for deferral of polls in November and asked them to be answerable to the people.

He added that regressive and anti-nationalist forces were trying to raise their heads due to the uncertainty prevailing in the country.

He accused the Maoists of prolonging the life of monarchy by spiking the polls. “Why blame the monarchy for stalling the polls? It is the Maoists who did it. They and the NC have prolonged the life of the monarchy by spiking the polls,” he added.

He added that the setting of a date for polls was being delayed, as the seven parties were yet to reach consensus on certain issues. He also objected to a 601-member constituent assembly, add-ing that a large country like India had only 500 members in its constituent assembly.

He warned that if the seven parties did not reach a consensus by December, the prospect of holding CA polls by mid-April too would be a very dim one. The Election Commission also needs at least 60 days to get its act together, he said.