Pokhara, September 21:

The CA polls will be meaningless if held without the involvement of the Maoists in the

government, Nepali Congress (D) presiident Sher Bahadur Deuba has said .

Speaking at a press conference organised by the Kaski chapter of Nepal Press Union here, Deuba said, “ The poll will be meaningless without involvement of the Maoists who had come to the peace process after a decade-long war.” Saying that he will persuade the Maoists to return to the government, Deuba said, “ All are wondering g whether the polls will be held after the Maoists have quit the government.”

“ I don’t believe that the Maoists will disrupt the polls going beyond the peace process,” he said, adding, “ It is necessary that the Maoists have to go to the polls to establish lasting peace in the country.”

Saying that there will be no meaning of the 12- point agreement if the Maoists did not contest the polls, he laid emphasis on holding the polls by including the Maoists in it.

“It is not appropriate to ignore the Maoists at a time when the Maoists are saying that they are committed to the peace process,” Deuba said.