Kathmandu, July 2:

Leaders of the CPN-UML today said education materials for voters must educate the masses on a democratic republic, inclusive democracy and restructuring of the state.

“All voters’ education materials – printed or electronic – must be oriented towards a democratic republic, inclusiveness and federalism,” UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said. He was addressing a programme organised by GEFONT to hold discussions on the voters’ education materials to be prepared for the constituent assembly elections.

The education materials must also discourage activities that are against the code of conduct to be prepared by the Election Commission (booth capturing, intimidation, threats to voters and candidates, double voting etc) and a large number of people and party cadres must be mobilised to create an atmosphere conducive to holding the election, he said.

“This is a golden opportunity for the Nepali people to make their own constitution which never materialised despite the late King Tribhuvan’s promise to do so in 1950,” he said. He also stressed the need to educate the people about the mixed election system – first-past-the-post election and proportion representation.

UML standing committee member Ishwor Pokharel also suggested that they develop voters’ education materials that focus on a democratic republic. The party’s central committee member Surendra Pandey said such materials should be prepared in 13 major languages spoken across the country.