KATHMANDU, Oct 12: The major three political parties have been univocal on holding the upcoming election of House of Representatives and of Provincial assemblies on the announced dates.

During a meeting held at Prime Minister’s office, Singha Durbar on Thursday, the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Center) reiterated on holding the coming elections on the scheduled date of November 26 and December 7.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, in the meeting, denied the reports that government was postponing elections and added that he was committed to holding the election at any rate, according to UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, who also attended the meeting.

All of them were of the same stand on discouraging the activities that affect the election.

Similarly, senior leader of the Nepali Congress, Ram Chandra Poudel, however, said his party proposed to formulate the National Assembly election act based on the single transferrable votes, while the UML took stand of formulating the law based on the majority of votes.

Poudel further said his party put forth such proposal as the National Assembly could be swayed by any party that garners majority. The Assembly is a proportional and inclusive body.

The meeting was attended by PM Deuba, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and MC Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Meanwhile, UML leader Subash Nembang said he put forth the view in the meeting that ministers from the Maoist Centre should not be dismissed against the election code of conduct. RSS

DHULIKHEL, Oct 11: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr Ayodhee Prasad Yadav has urged the government and political parties to move ahead by forging a high-level consensus as the election friendly environment was created nationwide.

Addressing the closing session of a training conducted for chief election officers and returning officers for the upcoming elections of the House of Representatives and State Assemblies on Wednesday, Dr Yadav urged all not to harbor doubt on timely elections, adding that no deviation was reported from any angle.

He also suggested the political parties and government to fully implement the election code of conduct for free and fair elections and warned to book whoever violates the election code of conduct.

Dr Yadav also urged the chief election officers and police administration to work on the basis of support and coordination.

He also directed the officers to discharge their responsibility so that the EC should not issue any directive.

Likewise, Commissioner Sudhir Kumar Sah directed the officers to work in such a fashion that no past mistakes would recur.

Hemanta Rawal, on behalf of the chief election officers, committed to fulfill their responsibility honestly and without compromise and pressure from others.

A total of 77 district judges, nine judges kept in pool and under secretaries of the Judicial Service were present in the training program. RSS

KATHMANDU, Oct 11: Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Yagya Bahadur Thapa has said that said that there are chances that the date of the first stage of the upcoming elections of House of Representatives and Province Assembly might be deferred to December 7.

The government is conducting both elections simultaneously on November 26 and December 7. But with the new political developments, the government is likely to postpone the November 26 election for a few days.

Speaking during an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Wednesday, Minister Thapa said that the government is doing necessary homework to hold both elections on the later date (December 7). He added, “But the election will not be deferred later than December 7 no matter what.”

Three leftist parties CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center) and Naya Shakti Nepal announced to from electoral alliance and unity process last week. A day later, in order to counterbalance the new political development, the ruling party Nepali Congress initiated a democratic alliance to from a pre-poll alliance. Even though five parties agreed to join hands with the NC-led alliance, allotment of constituencies as each party is claiming stake doing hard bargain is hindering the negotiation process.

UML and Maoist Center have agreed to share seats in 60-40 ratio in the upcoming elections towards direct system.

On the occasion, Minister Thapa also urged the opposition parties to cooperate the government. He added, “NC has not shaken due to the unity among the left parties. Left unity homework is unnatural. They have expressed doubt towards the government’s determination toward conducting the election on the announced date. But, the elections will be held in time.”

CHITWAN, Sept 26: CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal has insisted on the need of an alliance among the leftists in the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies.

Speaking at a press meet organized by Press Chautari Nepal, Chitwan chapter on Tuesday, he said there seemed no possibility of a single party garnering majority in the elections so as to run the government that’s why an electoral alliance among the leftist parties was necessary.

The former Prime Minister said the UML was ready for the leftists’ alliance if the CPN (Maoist Center) was positive for so.

He took the time to make clear the party ‘policy’ of going alone in the election if there was an electoral alliance between the Nepali Congress and CPN (MC).

On a different note that leader Nepal said he would compete either from Kathmandu or Rautahat in the upcoming election.

Giving his reaction about the party’s position in the recently held third phase of local level election in Province no. 2, he argued the party presence was not pessimistic in overall, pledging to take the party ahead making corrections of weaknesses of the local poll. RSS

KATHMANDU, Sept 9: The Election Commission has called for applications from the international organizations, community and individuals interested in observing the election to the House of Representatives and the State Assemblies slated for November 26 and December 7.

In a notice it published today, the EC called on the organizations, communities and individuals wanting to observe the elections to file applications with all the necessary documents from September 14 to 30 for the same.

Election Commission spokesperson Nawaraj Dhakal said the commission has urged the international organizations, community and individuals to participate in the election observation so as to contribute to the objective of holding the elections in a free, fair and fear-free environment.

The EC has expressed the belief that the observation of the elections by the international organizations and community would help maintain the Election Commission’s credibility besides expanding the relations between it and the international community.

The organizations and individuals wanting to observe the elections should fulfil their responsibility within the parameters of the code of conduct for the international observers endorsed by the commission.

According to the EC, the interested organizations or individuals should be registered with the official body of their respective country and also possess the experience of having observed the elections in the past.

Many countries have the practice of allowing the international organizations, community and individuals to observe their national, parliamentary or general elections. It is expected that this contributes to increasing the credibility of the elections. RSS 

KATHMANDU, Sept 9: The Election Commission (EC) has issued a notice, asking the political parties wishing to take part in the proportional representation (PR) electoral system during the upcoming elections of the House of Representatives and State Assembly to apply for so from September 10 to 12.

The government has announced to hold the elections in two phases in coming November 26 and December 7.

According to EC Spokesperson Nawaraj Dhakal, political parties should make it clear to the EC whether they seek PR seats in the House of Representatives election or the State Assembly or both. More, it should be clear that whether they are in the PR electoral race from all States or the particular one. Respective political parties have been asked to apply before the EC for so in writing along with the signatures of party chief official.

Any political party failing to submit application to the EC about this within the deadline shall be barred from taking part in the election towards the PR system. RSS 

CHITWAN, Sept 8: CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has announced that he will contest the election of House of Representatives from Chitwan district.

He however didn’t reveal which constituency he will contest from. “I will decide on the constituency after consultation with the party’s local committee,” said Dahal during a press meet organized by the Press Center, Chitwan on Friday.

“In 2008 Constitution Assembly Election, I contested from the origin district of People’s War, Rolpa and the capital Kathmandu. I won in both districts. This time, I will contest from Chitwan,” said the former prime minister, whose home district is Chitwan.

The party’s secretariat meeting held recently in Birgunj decided to give him the ticket from Chitwan in the central election, he informed.

According to laws related to Federal Parliament election, one candidate can only contest from only one constituency.

Dahal had also contested from two constituencies from Siraha and Kathmandu districts in the 2013 Constitution Assembly Election. He got victory in Siraha but lost in Kathmandu.

At the event, he took the time to claim that he had experiences of competing in elections from distinct geographical locations and background, and that he wishes to link up Chitwan to the central politics with the utilization of such experiences.

“I have come to Chitwan collecting a vast experience of the whole country. Chitwan can be changed into a smart city. I have preparing a long-term master plan for my home district,” said Dahal adding, “Infrastructures development in Chitwan has been my top priority. A ringroad bridging Narayani and Rapti rivers is also included in the development plan.”

“I believe my candidacy (likely) would be important for the people here as Chitwan is my political base,” he said, adding that his party would collaborate with any party embracing republic and democracy for the upcoming provincial and federal elections, be it the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Madhes-based political parties.