A meeting of the government representatives, office-bearers of the Election Commission (EC) and leaders of the Sanghiya Gathabandhan was held on Monday, to discuss the participation of those political parties not registered at the EC for the first phase of local level elections slated for May 14.

The meeting called by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at his official residence in Baluwatar deliberated on the ways and means to ease off the legal complexities and other complications concerning the same.

Following the meeting, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Ayodhee Prasad Yadav said that they agreed to extend the time of filing the candidacy until May 1 instead of April 29 that was fixed earlier.

CEC Yadav clarified that there was no possibility of providing the electoral symbols to some parties as per their demands due to the constitutional and legal limitations. He further said that there will be difficultly to print the ballot papers for second phase of elections proposed for June 14.

According to him, it was against the election code of conduct to postpone the budget announcement on April 29 every fiscal year as stipulated in the new constitution and to hold the elections in two phases by considering amendment in the new national charter.

Similarly, Gathabandhan leader Rajendra Shrestha said that the alliance was going to reach an agreement in paper soon based on the recently forged consensus with the government.

Furthermore, he shared that the Gathabandhan had called off all agitation as the government pledged to enable conducive environment for the upcoming local level elections and registration of the political party and electoral symbols by amending the laws related to the election through ordinance. RSS