Nepal likely to fix election date within next three days

Nepal's four major political parties today decided to fix the date for the Constituent Assembly elections within the next three days as the country prepares to observe its sixth Republic Day next week.
The chairman of the election government Khil Raj Regmi has asked the political parties to reach a consensus within a couple of days so that the poll date could be announced on the sixth Republic Day on May 29, cabinet�sources said.
In response to this the top leaders of the major parties, UCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and the Joint Madhesi Front, have assured that they would soon reach consensus on the key issues to facilitate the government to announce the election date.

They expressed their commitment to suggest the election date after sorting out differences on contentious issues.
During the meeting at Baluwatar, the official residence of Regmi, the chairman of the election government urged the parties to reach consensus on disputed issues relating to elections, including number seats for the Constituent Assembly, pre-conditions to register political parties and minimum required votes to get seats under the proportionate voting system.
Although the parties have proposed 491 as seats in the Constituent Assembly they have not yet decided the matter officially.

The parties are also sharply divided on whether to bar people convicted under criminal charges from contesting elections or not.

Nepal was declared a federal democratic republic in May, 2008, by abolishing the 240-year-old monarchy.
The major parties have convened the meeting of the High Level Political Mechanism tomorrow so as to discuss the issues relating to announcing the election date and introducing election related ordinance.
After the meeting, president of Terai Madhesi Democratic Party Mahanta Thakur said, "We have made an understanding to make efforts from respective positions to announce the election date within the next three days. The government will fix the date for election once the political parties forge consensus regarding the election process and other disputed matters.