The ruling Nepali Congress has come up with a four-point proposal to break the political deadlock.

A meeting of senior party leaders including former and present office bearers drew the attention of the government on Monday to holding the local level elections in their present structure. The meeting that started on Sunday reiterated that it would be impossible to hold the local polls in a new set-up.

The meeting took a U-turn on Sunday’s decision that the constitution amendment proposal could be put on hold for the sake of expediting preparations for the elections. The leaders argued that it would only benefit the opposition CPN-UML.

The leaders urged the government and the political parties to endorse the election-related bills, resume the House proceedings and give the Election Commission its full shape in order to create an environment conducive to holding three layers of elections within 13 months from now. The leaders also decided to press the UML to end the obstruction of Parliament.

The largest party would hold talks with the ruling and opposition parties to forge agreement on the proposal.

NC leader Ram Chandra Poudel said it is possible to hold the local elections in March/April next year in the old set-up. The party also asked the government, in which it is a coalition partner, to find consensus for announcing the date for the local polls immediately.

The party argues that the local polls are necessary for utilising the budget allocated to the local bodies. “We have urged the government to prepare for the local elections while working to pass the constitution amendment bill,” said Poudel.

Poudel also updated the meeting on the developments in talks between the second-rung leaders from the ruling and opposition parties that are negotiating ways to end the impasse. Poudel and Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha met Madhesi leader Mahantha Thakur on Monday morning. The party also expressed its discontent with Speaker Onasari Gharti for repeatedly postponing the meeting of Parliament.

The UML, which has been obstructing the House since November 29, says it is ready to let the House resume its business if the parties are committed to endorsing the election-related bills.

Three poll bills are pending in Parliament while the posts for three election commissioners are vacant.

Course of action

-    Announce the local election date

-    Endorse election-related bills

-    Resume the House business

-    Give the Election Commission its full shape