Prachanda wants Constituent Assembly polls be deferred

Maoist Chairman Prachanda has sought a postponement of the Constituent Assembly election, scheduled to be held on November 22, till mid-April next year, saying elections cannot be held under pressure.

Kathmandu, Aug 25 : Maoist Chairman Prachanda has sought a postponement of the Constituent Assembly election, scheduled to be held on November 22, till mid-April next year, saying elections cannot be held under pressure.

It is futile to rush through a meaningless election, he said.

"There is pressure and a call for holding election anyhow. In such an atmosphere, the Constituent Assembly will not resolve the nation's problems," Nepalnews quoted Prachanda, as saying, during an interaction with civil society representatives on Friday.

Prachanda said that when his party was in a strong position, the polls were deferred.

"When there was a wave in favour of our party, the elections were put off under various pretexts. And, when they think that our party has landed in trouble, the very same elements are now saying that the election must be held at any cost," he said.

Prachanda's call for a postponement of elections has come at a time when the international community, including India and Europe, have called for the holding of free and fair polls on time.

They have said that the legitimacy of the Nepal Government and the parties would be questioned if the election is deferred again.

Prachanda said that Nepal people want "our kind of republic, and not any other".

Prachanda also rued the alleged attempts to portray Maoists as being against the Constituent Assembly in the wake of the threat of Maoist agitation next month.

"This is most unfortunate as our party was the one that sacrificed so much for this election," he said.

Various participants at the interaction meeting urged the Maoists to withdraw their agitation and pave the way for election.

Maoists have threatened to launch a nationwide agitation next month if their demands, including declaration of Nepal a republic and removal of Army from the royal palace, are not met before the Constituent Assembly polls.

Referring to his party's various agreements with seven parties, Prachanda said he now regrets that his party's flexibility was unduly treated.

"We feel we have been stabbed in the back," he said.

ANI