Kathmandu, July 19:

Standing committee meeting of the CPN-UML, chaired by general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, today called upon all the eight parties and republican forces to dedicate themselves

for holding the constituent assembly elections on November 22.The standing committee meeting noted that the delay in resolving the issues raised by the Madhesis, indigenous people, Dalits, women and backward communities has complicated the situation.

The meeting urged the government and the eight-party alliance to resolve those problems through dialogue, a press statement issued at the end of the meeting said.

Condemning the brutal killings of innocent civilians in the eastern Tarai, the UML urged the government to take strong measures to protect life and property of the citizens.

The meeting also decided to hold talks with various political parties to create environment conducive for the elections and maintain eight-party unity.

Keeping in mind the decisions of the 15th central committee meeting, the party has decided to mobilise the party’s all organisations for the preparation of the elections.

The party also urged the Election Commission not to give any party’s flag as an election symbol of a particular party for the purpose of assembly polls. It may be noted that the Election Commission has recognised the communist party’s sickle-and-hammer embedded flag as an election symbol of the CPN-Maoist.