Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development Kamal Thapa said on Saturday that there was no possibility of postponing the local level elections scheduled for May14.

“No one should cast doubt over the holding of timely polls that are taking place after nearly two decades in the country,” DPM Thapa said. He arrived in the Lake City to inspect implementation of the newly announced local units and the election preparations.

Stating that the government was doing its best to take the disgruntled parties on board the polls, Thapa said the election date would not be changed even if a new agreement was signed with the protesting forces. “No agreement will be signed that could postpone the poll date,” said Thapa. He, however, said the government was committed to including all the parties in the historic elections.

DPM Thapa also urged all to make the elections successful as a democratic exercise. He said all the state agencies should work together to make the vote free and fair. In another context, Local Development Minister Thapa said some confusions and contradictions over operationalising the local units were natural as the restructuring was a new thing under federalism. Thapa hoped there would be significant progress economically, socially and politically within 10 years if federalism was implemented effectively.

Regional Administrator Yam Kumari Khatiwada informed DPM Thapa about the election preparations and the security situation in the western region.