KATHMANDU, NOV 02 - Leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-UML) Bam Dev Gautam today said his party was keener to go to election once the corrections have been made in the constitutional process derailed by the royal intervention of October 4, 2002.
"How can we go to election until there is a right atmosphere. No one can hold elections until and unless there are corrections in the constitutional process," Gautam said while speaking at the Reporters’ Club.
Saying that the latest buzz for election was an orchestrated move of the people who are not in a position to conduct election, he further said that the political parties may however be obliged to take part in the election even if it is the "illegitimate" regime which conducts the same.
Gautam however, said that the basic condition for the election was the restoration of the constitutional process.
He was also of the view that the king should be ready for the worst if he does not see sense in reconciling with the political forces before it is too late. "We are not against monarchy as a constitutional institution as long as the people’s aspirations are honored," Gautam further said.
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress (NC) leader Krishna Sitaula claimed that party president Girija Prasad Koirala’s public remark on election have been wrongly reported by the media. "He actually meant that the agitation will not be called off even if elections are announced," Sitaula said, debunking reports by a certain section of media that Koirala was ready to face election.
He also debunked the claim that the government could hold the elections.
He billed the government claim as tantamount to "cats taking the rats to pilgrimage" as a change of heart. Sitaula was of the view that if PM Surya Bahadur Thapa is hugely concerned about the democratic process he should appeal to the king to restore the constitutional process. He also undermined the demand to call Mahasamiti meeting.
People’s Front Nepal leader Lilamani Pokharel billed the current scenario as a lull before a storm, which could lash anyone who is caught up in it. He also flayed claims that elections could be held, saying state was now restricted within Ring Road.Posted on: 2003-11-01 08:54

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