The Hindu : National : India stresses need for early Nepal polls

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Saturday, Oct 13, 2007
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India stresses need for early Nepal polls

Ameet Dhakal

Expresses disappointment over postponement of polls
Nepal leaders agree with India’s views

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s special envoy Shyam Saran wrapped up his three-day visit to Nepal on Friday stressing the need for early elections in that country.

Mr. Saran held dialogues with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Maoist Chairman Prachanda, UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and other influential leaders and Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokharel and pushed for early elections.

Addressing a press conference before leaving for New Delhi, Mr. Saran said, “India is quite disappointed by repeated postponement of Constituent Assembly elections.” Further delay in holding elections would raise questions of legitimacy of the government.

“The peace process and the electoral process are crucially linked together. We don’t think the peace process can proceed independently without the electoral process,” he said.

He told the journalists that all the leaders with whom he held consultations agreed with India on the need to hold the elections at the earliest. He also stressed that people’s mandate was necessary to decide the future of monarchy.

“We have consistently taken the position that it is up to the people of Nepal to choose how they wish to be governed. But what is the best way to do it? The best way is to have a fresh mandate,” Mr. Saran said.

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