More than a dozen female Central Working Committee members of the Nepali Congress have urged President Bidya Devi Bhandari to endorse the ordinance related to National Assembly election without further delay.

Issuing a joint statement, they said the bicameral parliament would not get its complete shape without the Assembly.

CWC members Dila Sangraula, Dibyashwori Shah, Om Kala Gautam, Lalit Kala Gurung, Nirmala Chhetri, Nanu Bastola Siwakoti, Mahindra Limbu, Madhu Shahi Thakuri, Ranga Mati Shahi, Usha Bhandari and Prasis Mahara, among others, requested the President to clear the way for election to the upper house. They argued that the process of forming the next government would not begin without electing the upper house.

Citing the constitutional provision of ensuring 33 percent women in the federal parliament, the Congress leaders claimed that the Election Commission could not publish the final poll results before election to the Assembly.

The EC is said to be in the final stage of announcing the election results. But the absence of law for election to the upper house has deadlocked politics.

Meanwhile, the NC-aligned Nepal Student Union took to the streets on Sunday demanding immediate approval of the ordinance.

Protesting against the President for putting on hold the ordinance forwarded by the government two months ago, the NSU organised march through Padmodaya Chowk, Bagbazaar and Padmakanya Campus before converging into a corner meeting at Ratna Park.

Addressing the rally, NSU General Secretary Kundan Raj Kafle said the President cannot sit on the ordinance. “The President should make a decision in accordance with the constitution,” he demanded.

Although the head of state can return the ordinance sent by the government within 15 days, NSU Vice-president Ram Prasad Adhikary argued, it was against the constitution to hold it for two months.

Other NSU leaders threatened to launch a countrywide agitation from Monday if the ordinance was not passed immediately.