Major five parties of the Parliament have agreed to hold the upcoming local level election slated for May 14 in a single phase.

A meeting of the top five parties—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum- Loktantrik—held at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar on Wednesday, stressed on holding the polls on the announced date.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had convened today’s meeting to seek the opinion of the major parties on holding local polls in two phases if Madhesi Morcha comes onboard.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi said that the view on holding the local polls in two phases, if Morcha takes part in the elections, is not in anyway a proposal but just an opinion from the Prime Minister. He further informed that the security arrangements have been made for the upcoming elections.

Likewise, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, in the meeting, said that if the Morcha agrees to take part in the local elections then the polls could be conducted in two phases adding that holding elections excluding the Madhesi Morcha would create technical problems.

Meanwhile, CPN-UML and MJF-L also gave indications that they would support the government in holding two-phase elections. However, they sought guarantee that the Morcha would commit to the polls.

CPN-UML leader Subas Nembang said that the meeting decided to hold parleys with the agitating Madhes-based parties to seek consensus for their participation in the local polls till the last moment.

The Prime Minister had summoned today's meeting after leaders from the ruling coalition expressed uncertainty of holding the local elections on the slated date.

An alliance of Madhesi and Janjati parties has announced protest programmes including general strike to foil the upcoming election over unfulfilled demands.