India disappointed with postponement of elections in Nepal

New Delhi, Oct 05 (UNI) India today expressed disappointment at the postponement of elections in Nepal and cautioned that repeated deferment of polls would erode their credibility and affect democratic transformation and legitimisation in the Himlayan kingdom.

A spokesman of the External Affairs Ministry expressed the hope that the special session of the Interim Parliament would address all relevant issues democratically to enable the people of the country to choose their own future and the manner of governance through a free and fair election process.

''We are disappointed at the postponement of the elections in Nepal, which has occurred for the third time. The repeated postponement of elections erodes credibility and affects the process of democratic transformation and legitimisation in Nepal,'' the spokesman said in response to a question.

He expressed hope that the special session of the Interim Parliament would address all relevant issues democratically to enable the people of the country to choose their own future and the method of their governance.

''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 spokesman said.

The Nepalese Parliament will hold a session from October 11 to discuss Maoists' demands.

Elections in the Himalayan Kingdon were postponed for the third time today after political parties failed to agree to the demand of Maoists that the country be immediately declared a Republic and the voting system be changed.

The elections, which were to be held on November 22, would have elected a National Assembly that would write a new Constitution and decide the fate of Monarchy in the country.

UNI