Palpa, January 31:

The Tarai issue should not hinder holding of free and fair election to constituent assembly, Raghuji Panta, head of the CPN-UML publicity department, said today.

With whom would the agitating factions in the Tarai hold talks by rejecting an offer by the seven-party alliance, he wondered while addressing a press meet organised by the Press Chautari in Tansen.

He said the national army could be mobilised for security of the ballot boxes at the polling booths. “Nepal Army, unlike the Maoist PLA soldiers, are not politically motivated. So, they can be mobilised for the security of ballot boxes,” he said. He also informed that his party has not made any decision regarding electoral tie-up with the Maoists and that the party believed that certain responsible figures in the seven-party alliance should win the election. He hoped that the agitating Tarai groups, who have also registered political parties with the Election Commission, would participate in polls.