Municipal polls to held on scheduled date: Nepali ministers

The municipal elections will be held on the scheduled date even if the seven-political-party alliance boycotted them, the Nepali ministers said in Kathmandu Sunday.

"The government will organize the election on the scheduled date as there has been improvement in the law and order situation in the country," Durga Shrestha, minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare, said in an interaction program entitled " Contemporary Political Situation and Outlet".

The political parties are afraid to approach the people, she noted, adding, "They must trust and have faith on the people and not depend on foreign powers."

"The elections will be held as scheduled and they will be free and fair," Khadga Bahadur GC, minister for Local Development, said.

A large section of the people in all the political parties are interested in taking part in the elections, GC noted, adding, " There is a possibility that many of the political parties will witness a split."

Golchhe Sarki, assistant minister for Labor and Transport Management, and Binod Kumar Shah, assistant minister for Water Resources, said if the political parties have trust in the people, they should take part in the polls.

The election commission of Nepal has already announced the municipal elections to be held on Feb. 8, 2006.

Source: Xinhua