Election in Nepal will be held soon: Koirala

Kathmandu, Oct 15: Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today reiterated that the elections for the Constituent Assembly, which had been postponed twice, will be held soon.

''A fresh date for holding the Constituent Assembly elections will be announced soon,'' Mr Koirala said while inaugurating the third conference of the Non Residential Nepalese Association here.

''The peace process has hit a dead-end,'' he said, referring to the political crisis of the Himalayan nation following the Maoists' leaving the government and announcing protest programmes.

''I am confident that the current political impasse will also end shortly,'' he said.

The November 22 Constituent Assembly polls were postponed after the former rebel left the government demanding that the republic be declared from the parliament and proportionate election system introduced.

The Maoists had been saying that the election is not possible due to the conspiracy of the regressive force (monarchy).

''But I want to assure you that the seven-party alliance would not break,'' he added.

Mr Koirala said he was positive to the demands of the NRNs and directed the concerned agencies to consult the NRNs while drafting law related to NRNs.

The NRNs have been putting forth their demands including dual citizenship, voting right in proposed CA elections and enact laws to facilitate NRN investment in Nepal.

About 400 NRN representatives from over 40 countries are participating in the conference, which will formulate new NRN policies and elect a new leadership of the Non-resident Nepali Association International Coordination Council (NRNA).

NRNA ICC President Upendra Mahato said the issues related to migrant workers and students are not addressed in the current law.

Mr Mahato said the NRNs have already invested an estimated 300 million dollars in health, education, hydropower, banking, IT and others.

UNI