Kathmandu, Dec 27 – Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki convened, for the first time, a face‑to‑face session with senior leaders from Nepal’s main political factions to hash out the upcoming parliamentary elections set for March 5 next year.
Attendees at the prime minister’s official residence were Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba, the chairperson of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN (UML)) KP Sharma Oli, and the coordinator of the Nepali Communist Party, Pushpa Kamal Dahal. All three have previously served as prime ministers.
The leaders had a brief meeting earlier this week under the auspices of President Ram Chandra Paudel, but this was the first direct interaction the prime minister had with them. Their talks came against a backdrop of escalating political unease. Major parties, especially CPN (UML) and the Nepali Congress, have voiced worries about the electoral climate, citing concerns over law and order and the Supreme Court petitions filed to restore the dissolved House of Representatives.
After the discussion, Deuba briefed reporters that the parties were prepared to take part in the March elections. He added, “However, a conducive environment for the polls has not yet been prepared.”
Jagadish Kharel, who doubles as government spokesperson, reported that the three leaders expressed their willingness to contest the polls. He noted that even former prime minister Oli, whose party has pushed for reinstatement of the lower house, was ready to participate while underscoring the need for a fair setting.
“The Prime Minister assured the leaders that the government will ensure a suitable electoral environment by improving security and other conditions,” Kharel said. He also met each of the leaders individually on Friday.
Each party’s stance on the situation diverges. The CPN (UML) has questioned the government’s commitment to hold elections on schedule, accusing the current administration of acting unconstitutionally. The Nepali Congress confirmed its participation through its Central Working Committee but reiterated the necessity of a conducive electoral environment. The Nepali Communist Party, formed from the merger of the former CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist) among others, has consistently backed holding elections as planned.
The Prime Minister’s Secretariat reported that Karki welcomed the leaders’ pledge to partake in the polls and reaffirmed the government’s pledge to provide the conditions for free and fair elections.
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