The ruling coalition has agreed to delay the second phase of local level elections by about a week to bring the agitating Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N) on board the poll process.
The ruling coalition has agreed to delay the second phase of local level elections by about a week to bring the agitating Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N) on board the poll process.
At the second consecutive meeting between leaders of three major parties and RJP-N at Baluwatar on Sunday evening, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had proposed for delaying the polls so that the RJP-N would have no space for grumbling.
According to sources, the Nepali Congress was ready to postpone the election date but UML leaders questioned the ruling parties why did not the Madhesi parties join the polls even when the date was postponed earlier for a month.
However, the UML leaders are said to have remained neutral on the matter as the PM assured that the second phase of local polls would taken place on the scheduled (delayed) date even if the RJP-N refused to join the polls.
RJP-N leader Rajendra Mahato claimed that the three big parties, NC, Maoist Centre and UML, have agreed to postpone the polls for 10 days to create environment for the RJP-N to join polls.
“Let’s see how they create environment for the RJP-N to join the polls. Or else we have our struggle plan,” Mahato said.
During Sunday’s meeting, the RJP-N leaders appeared ‘very flexible’ and PM Dahal was confident that they would join the polls after the parties agree to deal on their demands following the polls.
PM’s chief political advisor Chakrapani Khanal said the UML leaders were flexible on the amendment proposal and increasing local units after the local polls.
The ruling parties have also agreed to make necessary preparations to ensure RJP-N’s party registration and providing an election symbol.
Claiming that they have set aside technical issues, the RJP-N leaders said they are more focused on getting their major demands fulfilled as a precondition to join polls.
They have also demanded more time to make preparations for the polls.
The RJP-N has been demanding increase in local units in the Terai on the basis of population besides amendment to the constitution.
The ruling parties, on the other hand, have urged them to join polls with an assurance that their demands would be addressed gradually.
Tika R Pradhan is a senior political correspondent for the Post, covering politics, parliament, judiciary and social affairs. Pradhan joined the Post in 2016 after working at The Himalayan Times for more than a decade.
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