Pokhara, September 7:

Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula said today that the political parties, taking into account the upcoming constituent assembly election, should launch a political campaign in villages by pushing a common agenda. He said this at an interaction programme, organised by the Home Ministry and attended by representatives of different political parties and civic society.

Different quarters have complained that political parties have not yet begun campaigning in villages, Sitaula said, urging the leaders and cadres of the parties to go the villages with the programmes. “A conducive environment for the election cannot be created till the leaders and cadres visit the villages,” he said.

The election is necessary as the tussle between monarchy and democracy is at its peak, he said, adding that failure to hold the election means people’s aspirations will remain unfulfilled.

Saying that many elements are waiting to exploit the ‘fluid’ political situation, he urged the people to cooperate with the administration and security organs to defeat these elements.

Later, Sitaula inaugurated a two-day training programme of the officials of the administration and heads of security organs in the western region.

He directed the officials to work to make the election a success. Terming the CA election a “historic event” for all, including security personnel, he said that such an opportunity should not be lost. Home secretary Umesh Mainali said security arrangements were divided into four parts for holding the election.

Law has been enforced to ban bandh programmes on highways and other link roads during the election, he added. Election commissioner Nilkantha Uprety said the Election Commission is fully prepared for the CA polls.

Meanwhile, a report from Tanahun said, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction and Nepali Congress general secretary Ram Chandra Poudel today directed the party’s cadres to go to

villages for campaigning for the CA polls.

Addressing a programme organised by the NC Area no-2 in Damauli, Poudel said: “As the CA

election is approaching, all party cadres should go to villages.”

He said that the district committee and regional committee should be active to form booth protection committees and educate voters about the polls.

He urged the two committees to give the list of names of the possible candidates for the polls.

Saying that NC and NC-D will be unified soon, he said: “The proposal of federal republic will be tabled in the NC’s Mahasamati meeting on September 23 and 24.”

NC district president Raghunath Poudel and mahasamati member Ram Chandra Pokhrel also expressed their views at the function chaired by Area no- 2 president Jhul Bahadur Poudel.