Kathmandu, January 21:

Chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Pashupati SJB Rana, today proposed postponement of the municipal elections scheduled for Feburary 8.

He said deferral of municipal elections could be instrumental in opening a dialogue between the government and the political parties.

RPP chief Rana said any gesture from the government towards reconsidering the scheduled municipal elections could help in initiating a dialogue and pragmatic basis for reconciliation .

Speaking to select journalists at his residence in Maharajgunj, Rana condemned the arrests of senior political leaders from the seven-party alliance.

“The arrest of senior leaders is deplorable and shocking that the government has imposed broad daylight curfew and prohibitory orders in the capital, and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party condemns this,” Rana told reporters, demanding immediate release of all the leaders.

“Isn’t this both ridiculous and contradictory that while the government imposes curfew

in the capital on one hand and talks about holding polls in the municipalities on the other?” he raised amazement.

Asked whether his party would take the initiatives for talks, Rana dismissed it saying that RPP was “not in a position” to initiate dialogue at a time when the government was “hell-bent” in hijacking the party.

He also accused the dissidents of the party for making their efforts in capturing the party flag and election symbol by misusing the resources of the state power.

Reiterating his party’s stance of constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy, Rana came down heavily on the government for ruining the situation for reconciliation and peace.