Local body elections should be held for good governance as per the constitution and to honour the people’s mandate, stated participants in an interaction programmed organised by National Election Observation Committee (NEOC) titled ‘Local Election: Infrastructure and Represent Mechanism’ in the Capital on Friday.

Leaders from various political parties and experts participated in the program that concluded the pillars of democracy would weaken if local body elections fail to take place. They further remarked holding local elections was necessary as the nation is still reeling under transitional phase.

Former Information and Communication Minister and Nepali Congress leader Minendra Rijal said that his party has always been positive towards holding the local body elections and want the election to be conducted at the earliest. However, leader Rijal pointed out that the incumbent government’s decision to hold the elections this November seems to be impossible.

During the program, CPN (Maoist Centre) leader Pampha Bhusal said that certain tasks of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) were yet to take place even though the constitution has been already promulgated. “Only after completing the works of CPA the local election is possible,” said Bhusal.

Ruling party CPN-UML leader Rajendra Pandey pointed out the need of cross party cooperation to conduct the election. “If all the political parties have will then conducting local body elections will not be a problem,” said Pandey. He further said that it was the duty of present government to convince the dissenting Madhes-based parties.

The programme was presided by NEOC Chairman Surya Prasad Shrestha.