Kathmandu, February 18

The United Democratic Madhesi Front today rejected Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s proposal regarding announcement of poll dates before a revised constitution amendment bill was passed.

The PM held a meeting with UDMF leaders and sought their support to announce poll dates immediately, but UDMF leaders rejected his offer, according to Co-chair of Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal Rajendra Shrestha.

He said he told the PM that if poll dates were announced without passing a revised constitution amendment bill, the UDMF would sever ties with the government and announce protest programmes.

Announcing poll dates for local bodies which have not come into existence yet will be an irresponsible act on the part of the government, Shrestha

argued.  “Local Bodies Restructuring Commission’s report has not been published in Nepal Gazette and the government is trying to revise the LBRC’s report. How can it hold local polls when it does not know the exact number of local bodies?” Shrestha wondered.

Sadbhawana Party Chair Rajendra Mahato said he told the PM that if civic poll dates were announced without ensuring passage of the constitution amendment bill, polls would be meaningless.

“We have clearly told the prime minister that if the poll dates are announced without resolving the country’s problems, we will announce protests immediately,” Mahato said.

He said he told the PM that the government should not announce dates for local polls, which could not be held. “How can local polls be held when people all over the country are protesting against the LBRC’s report?” Mahato wondered. He warned that announcement of poll dates would only escalate conflicts.

General Secretary of National Madhes Socialist Party Keshav Jha said almost all the UDMF leaders told the prime minister that if he was under  compulsion to announce civic poll dates, the UDMF also would be compelled to announce agitation against the polls.

Jha said the PM told the leaders that he was under compulsion to announce local poll dates, but he would also initiate debate on the constitution amendment bill and he was confident that the bill would be passed. “The PM’s body language indicated that he was determined to announce poll dates soon,” Jha said.

According to a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the PM told UDMF leaders that there was no option but to hold local polls to end the political deadlock.  The PM said he wanted the process of  constitution amendment bill and preparations for local polls to move together, said the release.

The PM said if civic poll dates were not announced soon, it would be impossible to hold polls before mid-June.

The PM also said the government would move the process of the constitution amendment bill from the next parliamentary meeting scheduled for Tuesday.