Political leaders and legal experts have demanded the timely announcement of local-level election. Speaking at a program organized by Reporters' Club here Saturday, they argued that the constitution had not imaged the local level left unelected by the people.
National Assembly member Dr Khimlal Devkota said the local level election must be held on time. Elections of all levels- local, provincial, and federal- could be held at once. Constitutionally, the election of local level can not be postponed, he added.
CPN UML leader and Bagmati Province Assembly member Rameshwor Phunyal viewed the date of the local level election must be announced immediately in line with the constitutional provision of elected representative for the governance. The constitution has fixed the term of the local level representatives for five years, so the local level must not be left in void.
On the occasion, advocate Dr. Surendra Mahato argued periodic election is the backbone of democracy. The local level election can be conducted within six months of the expiry of the five-year term.
Senior advocate Dr. Surendra Bhandari said the constitution has stated that local level elections should be held within six months of the term expiry. The six months is however for a critical situation. So, it must not be shown as a condition to postpone local level elections. It must not be politicized, he underscored.
Similarly, another senior advocate Dr. Dinesh Tripathi stressed that government must not delay anymore to announce local-level elections. He however argued that all three layers of the election could not be held at once.
Dr. Tripathi viewed the constitution had not imagined the local level sans people's representatives.
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