Nepal's main political parties have launched efforts to bring the breakaway faction of the Unified CPN-Maoist to November 19 Constituent Assembly polls.
"We are making last effort to bring the CPN-Maoist, the breakaway faction of the Unified CPN-Maoist, to the election process," Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Vice-chairman of UCPN-Maoist told national daily Annapurna Post.
A meeting was held yesterday involving middle-level leaders of UCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and the poll opposing fringe parties at the initiative of Shrestha, the daily said.
During the meeting the participating leaders of the political parties expressed the view that the election date should be deferred to April and head of the government Khil Raj Regmi should resign from the post of the Chief Justice, the two pre-conditions set by the CPN-Maoist for joining the polls.
According to media reports, chairman of CPN-Maoist Mohan Vaidya has recently met UCPN-Maoist chairman Prachanda, Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala and chairman of CPN-UML Jhala Nath Khanal to discuss the matter.
During the meeting the leaders have expressed the view that the matter relating to bringing CPN-Maoist to the poll for should be discussed among the major political parties and chairman Regmi to be advised for differing election date, the daily reported quoting party sources.
Meanwhile, head of the government Regmi has assured the international community that his government has completed all preparations to conduct the Constituent Assembly polls on November 19.
Addressing the 68th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Regmi said his government is confident of accomplishing its main responsibility of holding free and fair polls that would institutionalise peace and democracy in Nepal.
During his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the General Assembly, Singh stressed that the elections should not be deferred anymore and India was ready to provide any kind of support to help Nepal make it a success, according to a press release issued by the Prime Minister's Office.
"Prime Minister Singh stressed that the election should be conducted on the scheduled date" as "it was the only means to institutionalise democracy, stability and prosperity in Nepal," Regmi also thanked the government of India for pledging support for Nepal's election process.
In the mean time, CPN-Maoist Vice-chairman C P Gajurel has sought help from the United Nations to bar the government from mobilising army in the forthcoming elections.
Gajurel has handed over a letter addressing UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon claiming that mobilising army in the Constituent Assembly elections would be against the Comprehensive Peace Accord.
