Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Ayodhi Prasad Yadav has underscored the need of consensus among all political forces, including the agitating Madhes-based parties, for the successful conduct of elections. 

During a press meet organised by the Election Commission in Biratnagar on Saturday, CEC Yadav said political parties should help create a suitable environment for local level polls set for May 14 by forging consensus.

The country will vote in 50 days to elect representatives at 744 local units across the country, but the agitating Madhes-based parties have warned of disrupting the polls, saying that the government failed to address their demand of constitution amendment.

With the Madhes-based parties up in arms, the EC is particularly worried about elections in Province 2. 

Earlier on March 19 also the EC, during a press conference in the Capital, had expressed its concern over lack of consensus among parties and possibility of elections in Province 2. “We have been saying that the participation of all the political parties in local level elections should be ensured,” CEC Yadav had told journalists. Before that, during a meeting with PM Dahal on March 17, CEC Yadav had urged him to help create an environment where all political forces could be accommodated for successful holding of local elections. 

During Saturday’s press meet here, CEC Yadav said that election preparations have been affected in Province 2 and some regions in the western part of the country due to obstructions by the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha.