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Polls in June 28 despite RJPN protest, says CEC Dr Yadav



Chief Election Commissioner Dr Ayodhee Prasad Yadav- Photo: Mukunda Kalikote, Reporters' Club Nepal

RAJBIRAJ, June 11: Even though Rastirya Janata Party Nepal announced its agitation programs in the districts of Terai Madhes, Chief Election Commissioner Dr Ayodhi Prasad Yadav says that the second phase of local level polls would be held on June 28 as scheduled.

“The local election round two will be held in the slated date at any cost. We need support from all sectors for conduction the election successfully and fairly,” said CEC Yadav while speaking at an interaction program with the leaders of different political parties, local administration, security personnel, industrialists and business community on Sunday.

RJPN on Sunday unveiled its protest programs in Terai Madhes districts targeting to foil election process of the second phase polls after the ruling parties rejected its proposal to postpone the round 2 of local election. It has also called a four-day general strike aiming to affect the filing of candidates.

Yadav, who is currently on visit to Terai to scrutinize the challenges of the upcoming local election, also said that the Election Commission has already instructed the poll officers not to halt preparations for the poll and be prepared to make it success at any cost.

RJPN has demanded that the government should address their concerns by endorsing the constitution amendment bill before the polls, release its cadres arrested in criminal charges during the Tharuhat Madhes agitation and increase the number of local units in the districts of Terai in order to reflect the size of population.

However, the cadres of the Rastriya Janata Party, Nepal greeted Dr Yadav with the black flags in Rajbiraj, Saptari saying that they would not attend the polls until their demands were met.

Saptari is also the home district of the CEC Dr Yadav.

The EC later expressed reservation over a demonstration and display of black flag against Yadav.  The Commission, in a statement, mentioned that troublemaking cadres of some political parties shouted slogans against the CEC and showed black flags when the district’s chief election official, political party representatives, journalists, security chiefs among the concerned were heading towards the Chief District Officer (CDO)’s bungalow to participate in an interaction programme organized by the District Election Office.

EC has urged the concerned stakeholders to help create an environment conducive to conducting the local polls by avoiding undemocratic and undisciplined activities that undermine the rights of the people who choose their representatives and the elected representatives at a time when people in the districts of Tarai – Madhes are becoming more excited about the local polls.

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