Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that local elections are a must for devolution of power from Singha Durbar to the villages, urging all to help organise the local level polls on May 14 successfully.

Receiving the annual report from the National Information Commission (NIC) on Thursday, PM Dahal expressed his worry about the “plots” being hatched to foil the polls and to block implementation of the new constitution.

When political transition is protracted, people get frustrated while regressive forces can make a comeback, the PM warned. Since the new constitution provides legislative, judicial and executive powers to the local units, local polls are necessary for their realisation at the grassroots level.

Stressing the right to information for strengthening democracy, Dahal said an informed public makes law enforcement easier. 

In the age of information revolution, concealing information does not strengthen public administration, he said. Elections are important for institutionalising the political gains, the PM added.

On the occasion, NIC Chief Commissioner Krishna Hari Baskota said 674 of the total 678 complaints registered with the commission were addressed within the year.