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Maoists set terms for poll

KATHMANDU: The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has demanded declaration of Nepal a republic and adoption of a fully proportional system of election for the upcoming Constituent Assembly polls as preconditions for its participation in the process.

Responding to question raised by party leaders and cadres at the ongoing party plenum, Maoist chairman Prachanda said, “There cannot be an election to the Constituent Assembly until a republic is proclaimed and a fully proportional system is adopted.”

Prachanda also warned that if the Government does not concede the demands, his party would pull out of the coalition and take to the streets.

The Maoists’ latest stance has raised questions about the possibility of holding the Constituent Assembly elections on November 22 as scheduled. The issue of monarchy and the system of election were settled long ago following a compromise among the ruling eight-party alliance. The interim Constitution says that the fate of the monarchy would be decided by the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly and a mixed system of election would be adopted for the poll.

The other members of the coalition, especially the Nepali Congress led by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, are averse to opening negotiations on “already settled issues”.

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