Kathmandu, April 14. (PTI): The Nepal Government has postponed the crucial Constituent Assembly Elections slated for June 20 and a new date will be decided tomorrow, a senior Minister said today.

The meeting of the top leaders of the eight political parties, including Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist Chief Prachanda, scheduled to take place on Sunday at the Prime Minister's residence will decide the new election date, Minister for Peace and Rehabilitation Ramchandra Poudyal told reporters here.

The elections were postponed after the Election Commission sent a letter to the Government expressing its inability to conduct the polls on June 20, saying that it needs at least 110 days for preparations and the current security situation was not satisfactory.

Poudyal said during the eight-party meeting, "The Election Commission's letter will be analysed and keeping in view other factors a new date for the polls will be fixed".

On April one, a unity Government, inclusive of Maoists, was formed and the eight mainstream parties had decided to hold polls to elect a Constituent Assembly on June 20.

The Nepali Congress General Secretary, who is number two in the cabinet hierarchy, said "the Government has not postponed the election for indefinite period. It will be held after some time".

At a New Year's tea party for journalists organised by the Nepali Congress, Kathmandu district committee, Poudyal said unity among the eight political parties was essential to safeguard democracy and "to maintain national sovereignty in this transitional phase".

Regarding the Maoists' demand to declare Nepal a republic before going to the polls, Poudyal said "The matter whether monarchy will remain or not should be decided by the people through their voting during the Constituent Assembly Polls".

"It is not sufficient to declare a republic and we should also act in a responsible manner," the Minister pointed out.

According to analysts, elections in Nepal are feasible only in May-June and October-November due to the weather and geographical conditions.

The polls are crucial to the peace process that has ended the decade-long Maoist violence in Nepal. The elected members will rewrite the Constitution and decide the fate of the 238-year-old monarchy.