NC CEC meeting concludes, calls for respect of popular mandate

Kathmandu - The Nepali Congress party has expressed respect towards the popular mandate extended to it in the recently held two rounds of local level elections. 

"Though the party did not achieve the expected result, it accords high respect to all the victories gained through a democratic process, and extends heartfelt gratitude to every vote that the party received in the elections," reads a press statement released following the end of the party's central executive committee meeting on Monday. The party has blamed the delay in selection of the party's candidates, lack of time to address intra-party dispute and discontent, and betrayal by party members in some constituencies for the loss it faced in the election. 

The CEC meeting chaired by party president and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba also decided to initiate necessary action as per the party's statute and regulations against the party members that rebelled against and did not support the party's official candidates, while rectifying the party's weaknesses and shortcomings in relation to the election. 

The meeting also concluded that holding all three layers of elections in the slated timeframe to ensure broader acceptability of the constitution and implement the constitution are the national agendas. "To accomplish the agendas, the NC is committed to holding all the elections by January 21, 2018," reads the statement. 

The NC meeting has urged the government to make provisions for maintaining rule of law and security order as well as create favourable political environment. 

Similarly, the NC has expressed its commitment to implement all the agreements inked with the Maoist Centre, Madhesi Morcha, Federal Alliance, Rastriya Janata Party, Nepal and others.
 
The party meeting expressed its readiness to table the constitution amendment bill in the Legislature-Parliament as agreed in the past that is under consideration in the parliament. It has also appealed to the main opposition CPN (UML) and all political parties for support in ensuring broader acceptability of the constitution and creating environment conducive for all levels of polls by passing the bill. 

The meeting that had begun on July 22 has further decided to mobilize its sister wings, different organizational structures and well wishers in view of third phase of local polls slated for September 18 in Province No 2. Accordingly, the party has appealed to all the voters of the province to vote for the NC candidates, as the party was always on behalf of Madhes and the Madhesi people. 

Expressing profound sorrow over the loss of lives and properties in floods and landslides in various parts of the country, including Saptari, Kaski and Sindhupalchowk districts, the party has demanded that the government provide the survivors with proper relief, compensation and appropriate shelter. It also calls for relief support to the farmers who were not able to cultivate paddy and other crops due to drought caused by low rainfall and action against those involved in the incidents of violence against women and girls.