The main opposition CPN-UML has asked the Nepali Congress not to question its commitment to democratic values. Calling the recent decision of forging an electoral alliance between the UML, CPN (Maoist Centre) and the Naya Shakti Party-Nepal as “historic”, a Standing Committee meeting of the UML on Saturday urged the government to focus on holding the scheduled provincial and federal elections.

UML Secretary Pradeep Gyawali said deferring elections on any pretext might lead the country towards uncertainty. He asked the government not to make changes in the Cabinet citing the alliance between the three parties. The government could first change the ruling coalition and then postpone the elections blaming the change in government, Gyawali expressed his fears, urging other parties not to perceive a threat from the alliance of parties having similar ideologies.

The UML’s remarks come at a time when some NC leaders view the leftist alliance 

as a threat to democracy. 

The NC is in a fix over the future course following the decision of the Maoist Centre, the main partner of Congress-led ruling coalition, to forge an alliance with the opposition UML.

Meanwhile, the UML Standing Committee has decided to demonstrate flexibility to ensure planned unification of the three forces after the elections. The meeting also endorsed the formation of party unification committee and two separate teams to draft the election manifesto and to decide candidates for the elections. Top leaders of the alliance had agreed to form the panels following a six-point agreement last week.