Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Ayodhee Prasad Yadav has stressed the need for making efforts to create an environment where all political forces, in and outside Parliament, can be accommodated for successful holding of May 14 local level elections.

During a meeting, CEC Yadav discussed election-related issues with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and drew the latter’s attention to the need for creating an environment where all political forces and people can take ownership of local level elections which are being held after two decades.

“The Election Commission is of the view that all the people and parties should take ownership of the upcoming elections,” Yadav told journalists after his meeting with PM Dahal. CEC Yadav’s remarks on Friday came amid the agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha’s warnings that it would not only resort to civil disobedience but also disrupt elections. The Morcha, which has already withdrawn support to the government for failing to address its demand of constitution amendment, has announced protests against local elections.

The government is making all-out effort to get all parties on board local elections set for May 14: PM Dahal

The EC is of the view that all the people and parties should take ownership of the upcoming elections: CEC Yadav

The government on February 20 announced local level elections for May 14, angering the Morcha as the constitution amendment bill introduced in Parliament has failed to  move forward. On March 4, the main opposition CPN-UML, which has objected to the Morcha’s demand of constitution amendment, launched its election campaign from Kakarbhitta.

Two days later, the UML reached Maleth of Saptari where police opened fire on Morcha protesters for trying to disrupt its election rally. Five protesters died.

After Morcha’s seven-day ultimatum served to the government on March 8 failed to yield results, it announced that it would disrupt local polls. Against this backdrop, CEC Yadav on Friday expressed his concerns with PM Dahal about the prospects of elections, especially in the Tarai region.

Earlier on March 5, the EC had urged political parties to help create conductive environment for successful conduction of elections, saying that deep divisions that had emerged could pose serious challenges.

According to Govinda Acharya, press adviser to PM Dahal, CEC Yadav urged the prime minister to help create an environment so that all the parties can be accommodated and taken on board elections.

“PM Dahal told him that the government was making all-out effort to that end and called on the EC to accelerate preparations for May 14 polls,” said Acharya.