Kathmandu, February 1:

Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) chairman Pashupati SJB Rana said today that the government must hold the Constituent Assembly election on the stipulated date to acquire its lost legitimacy.

Rana said the government should not repeat the mistake of deferring the CA election this time. “This means that the government should not deprive the people of their rights to vote and choose their representatives,” he told an interaction here today.

He was of the view that the government, which has already lost its legitimacy for deferring the CA election twice, must work to ensure a favourable environment for the election. Ensuring conducive environment means, Rana said, improving the law and order situation in the country, which he said was not at all favourable for holding the election. “Or else, election cannot be held in the current situation,” he added.

Criticising the seven-party government for the deteriorating security situation, Rana said,

“Even Nepali Congress acting president Sushil Koirala and Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula have admitted that the security situation is not encouraging.”

He suggested that most of the Madhesi crises would be resolved if the government assured the Madhesi factions of guaranteeing their participation in all the State functionaries and protecting their identity. “The RPP is, however, against the idea of disintegration of the country,” he added.

Responding to a query on his party’s strategy for the CA election, Rana conceded that his party would forge an alliance with what he said “a major political force” in the April 10 election.

Rana did not reveal the name of the “significant force” but labelled it as a key political player in the current political scenario. “But be assured, it is not the CPN-Maoist,” he said. Rana said his party was holding consultations with former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa-led Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) for unification, which he said might happen some time before April 10.

Meanwhile, a report from Dhankuta quoted former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba as saying today that the polls will be held on schedule at any rate.

Addressing a gathering here, he directed the party cadres to elect the supporters of republic in the polls.

Saying that the third amendment to the interim constitution has met half of the demands of women, Dalits, Janajatis and Madhesis, he said, “Rest of the demands will be met after the polls.” Mood for the CA polls is being created now, NC spokesperson Arjun Narasingh KC said, adding, “The establishment of a federal republic is the main agenda of the NC. I urge NC cadres to go to the villages with this agenda.”

Deputy speaker Chitralekha Yadav said, “The nation has been facing a conflict as the genuine demands of the agitators have not been met.” The government should not make delays in addressing the demands, she said. Meanwhile, the Nepal Democratic Alliance today condemned the seven-party Alliance (SPA) for declaring a republic from the interim parliament before constituent assembly (CA) polls.