Kathmandu, March 4

The CPN-Maoist Centre Secretariat advised the government to move the process of the constitution amendment bill ahead and try to pass it before local level polls.

Party leader Mani Thapa said the meeting chaired by party Chair and Prime Minister Maoist Centre Secretariat advised the government to prepare for the polls and at the same time make efforts to pass the constitution amendment bill in order to address Madhesis’ demands.

Thapa said secretariat members also advised the government to accept the report of the task force formed under the Minister of Federal Affairs and Local Development Hitraj Pandey to make suggestions on the report submitted by the Local Bodies Restructuring Commission. According to Thapa, the meeting told the government to accept the report of the task force and submit it to the Election Commission immediately so that the EC could move ahead with its work. Thapa said the meeting also decided to continue dialogue with the stakeholders, particularly the United Democratic Madhesi Front, on its demand for increased local levels in the Madhes in proportion with the region’s population.

“This means our party is ready to accept the UDMF’s demand that population be the main criteria for determining the number of local bodies,” Thapa said.

According to party Spokesperson Pampha Bhusal, the meeting suggested that the government continue holding dialogue with  the UML,  the RPP, the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Democratic and the UDMF to prepare conducive environment for polls by passing the constitution amendment bill.

A press release issued by the PM’s Secretariat said the meeting advised the PM to make efforts to convince the UDMF to accept polls. The meeting also advised the government to be ready to add local levels and urged the UDMF to run its political programmes peacefully and democratically.

The CPN-MC appealed to all political parties to join the election process to make election impartial, free from malpractice, fear and intimidation.