A day after the government announced to hold the local polls on May 14, the main opposition party has urged the government not to proceed with the constitution amendment bill tabled in Parliament, reiterating its previous stance.

After an informal meeting of the Standing Committee held at Dhumbarahi, party secretary and publicity department chief Yogesh Bhattarai said the UML had not changed its stance on the amendment proposal.

Earlier, UML leaders had said the second largest party would be flexible enough to allow the government to proceed with the amendment proposal if the date of local polls was announced.

Bhattarai said the proposal would not be endorsed from Parliament as it was “anti-national and against people’s interest”. He, however, said voices were raised in the meeting that the parties should discuss the fate of the proposal.

The party also decided to press the government to implement the report of the Local Level Restructuring Commission.

Bhattarai said the government should now ensure the polls by doing the necessary legal and political groundwork. The opposition party also asked the government to stop all the activities including transfers, promotions and appointments that would affect the elections.

Obstruction in Mechi-Mahakali campaign will be opposed: Oli

KATHMANDU: Citing possible disturbance in the party’s Mechi-Mahakali Campaign from the agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has said his party would not tolerate any obstruction. With the government announcing the date of local polls on Monday, the regional parties have announced protest programmes.

Inaugurating the Central Management Office of the national campaign to be held on March 4-18 at the party headquarters in Kathmandu, Oli urged everyone not to obstruct the campaign scheduled earlier on any pretext.