LALITPUR: CPN (UML) senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that a permanent people’s elected government was needed for country’s economic development.

At a seminar organized here today, the former prime minister said that country has lagged behind in economic prosperity due to political instability, lack of stern legal provisions and poor leadership.

Likewise, UML leader and former finance minister Surendra Pandey said that 53 public enterprises have failed to deliver expected services due to investment crunch and lack of answerable leadership in them.

According to RSS, UML leaders Dr Bijay Poudel and Bishwanath Poudel, former secretary Balananda Poudel and others commented on the working paper presented by Prof Dr Pushpa Raj Kandel at the program.

In his working paper, Dr Kandel has stated that political interference was high in appointment of the Chief Executives in the public enterprises and the government has failed to make reforms in the public enterprises.

BIRGUNJ: CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that the agitating parties will be brought to consensus to ensure CA election on November 19. He said, “November 19 CA election will not be postponed.”

At a press meet here today, he also said that the major political parties were open in all topic except of government change and postponing the election date to listen to the agitating parties.  The UML leader said that CA election was the only mantra to resolve the country’s crisis.

KATHMANDU: Former Prime Minister and UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal today returned home after concluding his five-day-long visit to India.

UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel and leader Rajan Bhattarai also returned home.

Talking to media at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal said that being a goodwill visit he hold talks with the Indian leaders on the same manner. “My visit was not intended to seek wishes from Indian leaders,” he brushed aside the critics’ and media reports.

He said Nepali politicians should be capable of doing everything on their own.

He also said that the Indian leaders have wished to see timely CA election and political stability in Nepal.

During his visit, the UML leader held talks with almost all top Indian leaders including Sonia Gandhi,  Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh and others.

KATHMANDU: Senior leader of the CPN (UML) and former Prime Minister, Madhav Kumar Nepal, who is on a five-day visit to India, has met with various leaders and high-level officials of India this morning.

Leader Nepal has met with Indian Prime Minister Dr Man Mohan Singh. During the meeting, the issues ranging Nepal’s upcoming CA elections, bilateral interests and development prospects were discussed.

Similarly, Nepal and Foreign Secretary of India, Ranjan Mathai, held a meeting at Hotel Oberoi, where leader Nepal is staying.

During the meeting, Nepal thanked the Government of India for inviting him for a visit to India.

Leader Nepal said that support of foreign friends including from India was necessary to hold a free and fair election to the Constituent Assembly (CA) in Nepal as the country is heading for CA polls, said team member Rajan Bhattarai, Member of the Foreign Department of the CPN (UML), quoting Nepal.

On the occasion, Nepal also expected Indian support on different infrastructure development works and projects of Nepal including Dolalghat-Dhankuta road, Pancheshwor project, construction of Mujaffarpur-Dhalkebar Transmission Line and Bagmati River Purification Project.

Similarly, the former Prime Minister also visited Indian leader DP Tripathy and Loksabha Member Sanjan Singh Verma this morning.

Earlier on Thursday, the UML leader met with Chairperson of Congress (I) Soniya Gandhi.

KATHMANDU: CPN (UML) senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, who is currently on a visit to India, had a meeting with the President of the Congress (I) party of India, Sonia Gandhi, in New Delhi today.

In the meeting with Gandhi who is also the Chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA), Nepal briefed her on the present political situation in Nepal and the preparations going on for the upcoming Constituent Assembly election.

Leader Nepal is also scheduled to meet Indian PrimeMinister Dr Manmohan Singh.

According to Bishnu Rijal, leader Nepal’s press advisor, during the meeting Nepal said that regular meetings and exchange of visits and interactions between the leaders and parties of both countries would help understand each other’s issues. He expressed the belief that this process would deepen the mutual relations and make them free of bias.

He stated that the political parties have arrived at a point of consensus regarding protecting the achievements of the democratic movement and their institutional development.

Nepal also reiterated that election was the only alternative. He also expressed deep sympathies on the death of pilgrims in the recent floods in Uttarakhanda state of India.

On the occasion, Gandhi said that they wanted the democratic rights protected in Nepal and unity among all the democratic forces for the new election. She also expressed the belief that this would support cutting short the existing political transition in Nepal.

She added that the election would take Nepal toward economic development and also contribute towards making Nepal peaceful, democracy and prosperous.

UML general secretary Ishwar Pokhrel and Chief ofthe Foreign Department of the Indian Congress (I) party, Dr Karan Singh, were present in the meeting.

KATHMANDU: CPN-UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal has left for New Delhi on Wednesday on a five-day visit to India at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

Leader Nepal is accompanied by CPN-UML general secretary Iswor Pokharel and party´s foreign department member Rajan Bhattarai. In course of the visit, Nepal is set to have meetings with Indian Prime Minister Singh, ruling party alliance Chairperson and Congress-I Chairperson Soniya Gandhi, External Affairs Minister, major parties´ leaders and parliamentarians.

Leader Nepal will also hold a meeting with chief minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar in course of his visit to Patna. 

Talking to journalists before his departure at the Tribhuvan International Airport, he said during the meeting the two countries´ leaders will exchange views as how the existing bilateral relations could further grow. 

Nepali people are taking part in poll to frame a new constitution, he said, adding that the Indian assistance to this effect is adequate.

KATHMANDU: CPN (UML) leader Madhav Kumar Nepal who is heading for a five-day India visit on Wednesday has called on President Dr Ram Baran Yadav at the Office of the President today.

During the meeting, Nepal informed the President about his India visit.

On the occasion, President Yadav suggested that major political parties should take initiative to create environment conducive to the CA election and to discourage anti-election activities, said Nepal quoting the President.

The UML leader Nepal is embarking on India from at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel and UML leader Rajan Prasad Bhattarai would accompany leader Nepal.
Bhattarai was leader Nepal’s foreign affairs advisor he when he was prime minister.

POKHARA: CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that the CA election was the only mantra to take out the country from the present deadlock.

Environment conducive should be created by bringing the dissenting political parties including the CPN-Maoist and others to hold the CA election amicably, leader Nepal told reporters in Pokhara today.

Leader Nepal also said that government should announce the election date after holding serious talks with all dissenting parties.

Leader Nepal  who has been a vocal critic of the Maoists lately said that the Maoists have no charisma as people had thought earlier.

KATHMANDU: Norwegian Ambassador to Nepal Arne Ramslien met CPN-UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal on Wednesday.

During the meeting held at the former Prime Minister Nepal´s private residence in Koteshwor, the two held talks on the consensus efforts made among the political parties and contemporary political condition.

On the occasion, Norwegian Ambassador Ramslien discussed upon the effects on the overall election process due to delay on forging consensus for the electoral laws.

In response, Nepal informed the Norwegian Ambassador over the efforts made among the political parties regarding the electoral laws.

They also held talks regarding local bodies´ election and bilateral ties between Nepal and Norway, according to leader Nepal´s private secretariat.

RAUTAHAT: CPN (UML) senior leader who was defeated by UCPN (Maoist) leaders Jhakku Subedi in Kathmandu and by Devendra Patel in Rautahat has feared a free and fair CA election this time too.

The former prime minister at a program in Rautahat today has asked for arrangement of the electronic voting machines to ensure free and fair elections. 

As his pre-election campaign in Rautahat, the UML leader also distributed wheel chairs to physically challenged people.
Generally, in Tarai district distributing bicycles is a common practice before elections by the rich leaders.

Earlier, some weeks ago, former information minister Raj Kishor Yadav had also distributed cycles to girls in Saptari district.
On the occasion, leader Nepal also said that the 601-member size of the CA is too large to bear its burden.