Biratnagar, May 11
The KP Oli government has stated in its policies and programmes for the fiscal 2073-74 that it will conduct local elections in Mangsir (about seven months from now). The announcement has the Federal Socialist Forum Nepal on alert.
Reacting to this announcement, Upendra Yadav, president of the forum, which is part of the United Democratic Madheshi Front that boycotted Tuesday’s House meeting that discussed the policies and programmes, said in Biratnagar on Wednesday that elections for local bodies will finish off federalism.
Yadav, talking to journalists at Biratnagar airport, said the government’s preparations for civic elections are in fact a plot to finish of federalism. The country is moving ahead on the path of federalism, he said, adding: Only provincial governments have the right to form local bodies. “This government is a central government, so its pledge to conduct civic polls is a conspiracy to put an end to federalism.
In another context, Yadav said holding talks with this government is meaningless. He further clarified: This government has lost trust at the international level. Talks with an untrustworthy government will not find a way out, so holding talks with this government does not make sense.
Yadav, though, did not enlighten the media and the public as to how the government had lost the trust of the international community, neither he suggested some confidence-building measures.
