Siraha, December 25:

CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal today said the Election Commission (EC) must be clear on whether or not it can hold constituent assembly polls by mid-April and that the seven parties were ready to change the EC leadership if it says it cannot hold the polls on time.

Talking to journalists after visiting the Sirjana Community Library at Padariya of Siraha, he said, “The seven parties have agreed to hold the polls by mid-April at any cost. If needed, we are ready to change the leadership of the commission, if the election commission says that the polls cannot be held by mid-April.”

Talking about the current security situation in the Tarai, Nepal said, “Terror and fear is still prevailing in a few places due to the armed groups operating there, but security situation has been improving in other places.” He said that the government should hold talks with the agitating groups, which have political goals, and include them in the polls.

“As people from all communities, sectors, ethnic groups and national and international forces are ready for polls, they will be held by mid-April,” he said. Speaking at a press meet in Rajbiraj, Nepal said the UML had given up the issue of proportional electoral system for the sake of consensus.

He said, “As there is no single model of proportional electoral system in the world, we want to give the CA polls a Nepali model.” He claimed that a seven-party mechanism was to be formed to create an atmosphere of trust and mutual agreement among the parties. He said the cabinet would be reshuffled soon.

When asked about JTMM-G’s demand for UN mediation for talks with the government, he warned that if the foreigners are invited here, Nepal might face the fate of Sri Lanka. “We have to solve out problems ourselves,” he said. Meanwhile, Nepal visited the house of Pashupati Shrestha and Gajendra Shrestha who were killed by an armed group last week, to express his condolence over the killings.