Next cabinet meeting to decide CA polls date

KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, Science and Technology and Environment, and Irrigation Uma Kant Jha has said that the government preparing to announce the date for fresh CA polls very soon.

Speaking at an interaction and greetings exchange program of Fagu Poornima at Reporters’ Club on Tuesday, Minister Jha said the government was committed to holding the CA elections in the slated date as the office-bearers in the Election Commission (EC) have been appointed and the EC was holding discussions towards the same goal.

“We are consulting the EC to announce the date for holding the CA polls by third week of June,” Jha said.

He further said, “The EC is also making schedule for election. We will announce the CA elections date to meet that too,”

Jha also revealed that the next meeting of the Council of Ministers would take a decision to the CA polls date.

Minister Jha was of the opinion that the government was ready to handover the powers to the elected boy by holding free, fair and fearless elections by third week of June.

Reporters Club Chairman Rishi Dhamala presided over the program.

Minister Jha said that all political parties are responsible to make the CA elections a success. The government would hold elections by taking all the parties into confidence while the support of major political parties was a must to that end, he added.

At the beginning of the program, Club’s Chairman Rishi Dhamal smeared vermilion powder (Abeer) to the leaders and Minister Jha.

Similarly, the politicians and journalists shared greetings of Fagu Poornima.

Similarly, UCPN (Maoist) spokesperson Agni Prasad Sapkota said CA polls could be held within 40-45 days.

“We have 80-85 more days. So, all parties should be ready for CA polls. Those planning to obstruct the polls are regressive forces. They can do nothing,” he added.
He also said that there was no people’s support to the CPN-Maoist and they cannot destabilize the polls despite their wish.

He also said that the central committee meeting of the UCPN (Maoist) scheduled for March 30 would take decision concerning the upcoming elections as the ongoing central committee meeting has already formed election manifesto drafting committee and candidate selection committee.
He also said that anti-elections forces would be finished themselves.

Likewise, Nepali Congress leader Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat said the NC firmly believes to hold the CA elections by June 21.

Mahat claimed that people would give a majority to the NC in the coming polls and the NC would form a majority government.

“There was no option to give votes to the NC,” he opined.

Dr Mahat said those political forces opting the options of the elections have no other means to end the country’s ongoing deadlock and demanded that the government announce the elections date immediately.

Similarly, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav said the current government formed by the four-party syndicate cannot hold the CA polls.

He said, “Elections could not be conducted until the four-party agreement was corrected. Elections will not hold under the present circumstances.”

Yadav said, “Don’t even imagine the CA polls in June. This is just a cheap talk. This is a forgery of four political parties.”

He said his party has not made a formal opinion regarding the party’s participation in the elections. He further went on to say that his party was not against the elections but the decisions taken only by the four political forces were unacceptable.

Yadav said the new election should ensure the victory of the marginalized communities through proportional and inclusive election system.

Also speaking at the same program, UML leader Keshav leader demanded the government to immediately announce the date for CA polls.

“The government should bring to opponents in consensus,” he said.

Badal also said that the parties should take economic agendas as well in the fresh CA polls. He said the central committee meeting of the UML would announce the election programs soon to win people’s trust.