Yubaraj Ghimire
The Indian Express
November 5, 2013
With speculation about the November 19 election being put off in order to “accommodate” the 33-party alliance led by the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists being rife, Chief Justice-cum-electoral government head Khil Raj Regmi Monday said the government “was ready on its part” to hold elections as scheduled but wanted contesting parties to demonstrate conduct conducive to polling.
Regmi’s remarks reflect disapproval of the conduct of certain major political parties as they have clashed with rival groups during campaign that continued Monday.
Regmi summoned a short-notice meeting of top leaders of the key political parties in the wake of the National Security Council secretariat, through its routine report recently, warning the government that a poll without the 33-party alliance may push the country again into fresh conflict.
The electoral government chief said while the government has made all the necessary preparations, pro-poll political parties “must show their character” conductive to poll.
Addressing leaders of the United Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists , Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist , Forum Nepal and Samajbadi Sanghya Party, Home Minister Madhav Ghimire said in at least 55 cases of violence and clashes, parties contesting the polls were involved.
“Altogether 190 clashes and violent incidents have taken place during the ongoing poll campaign, and while the poll boycotting CPN-M cadres were involved in 135 such cases, the parties in the poll fray are involved in the rest.”
Regmi assured that the government will take stern security measures to ward off any violence, but it was equally the “duty of the contesting parties to create circumstances favourable for polling”.
