The Hindu : National : Nepal polls postponement disappoints India

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Saturday, Oct 06, 2007
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Nepal polls postponement disappoints India

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: India has expressed disappointment over the postponement of elections in Nepal and noted that it had occurred for the third time.

The polls were slated to be held on November 22.

“The repeated postponement of elections erodes credibility and affects the process of democratic transformation and legitimisation in Nepal,” said Foreign Office spokesperson Navtej Sarna when asked about the decision taken at a meeting of seven parties in Nepal on Friday.

Free and fair poll

“We hope that the special session of the interim Parliament will address all relevant issues democratically to enable the people of Nepal, who have sacrificed so much, to choose at the earliest their own future and the manner of their governance, through a free and fair election process,” the spokesperson said.

Following the seven-party meeting at Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s residence, the government faxed a letter to the Election Commission, asking it to cancel the election schedule.

The letter did not mention a fresh date, diplomatic sources here said.

The decision has the concurrence of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).

The party said it agreed to suspend the polls unless a decision was taken through the special House session to declare the country a republic and adopt a fully proportional electoral system.

On the other hand, two other Left Parties among the seven parties struck dissenting notes. Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) and Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party spoke against the postponement, the sources said.

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