Nepal: Five major parties agree to hold local level polls in single phase

The five major political parties of Nepal have agreed to hold the upcoming local level election scheduled for May 14 in a single phase.

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal called a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the issue of ongoing rift between the agitating and the ruling parties on holding the local polls in two phases.

In the meeting, the leaders of five major parties discussed over the contention of holding the local polls in multi phase if the agitating parties agreed to come for the polls at last minute.

"We will be holding polls on 14th of May, please don't have any confusion regarding it, I want to tell this to all. If there is a probability of United Democratic Madhesi Front's (UDMF) participation in the polls then the election can be held in two phases, this logic also exist. The thing is only about the understanding of this contention," Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi told reporters.

The opposition questioned the assurance about the participation of agitating forces as Dahal inquired about the prevalent options of holding the election in multiple phases.

However, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) also showed its willingness to initiate for the consensus.

"The conclusion that was made at the end of meeting was to hold the election in a single phase election in the country successfully. People are very enthusiastic to participate in the election; we have reached to that conclusion. To ensure the participation of UDMF and others in election on 14 May we decided to take necessary steps for the negotiation," senior CPN- UML leader Subash Chandra Nembang said.

The government is under intense pressure to hold the election which is less than four weeks ahead.

The meeting, which was held in the Prime Minister's residence, was chaired by top leaders of ruling coalition Nepali Congress, CPN Maoist Center along with the Opposition CPN-UML and the ruling ally Rastriya Prajatantra and supporter Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum- Democratic.