Everybody in Nepal wants elections on time: Cong

New Delhi, Feb 15 (UNI) A high-powered AICC delegation, which has returned from a three-day tour of Nepal, is of the opinion that every political party, including the Maoist, wants the Constituent Assembly elections on time on April 10.

''Everybody in Nepal wants elections on time, which had been postponed twice earlier,'' said Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed, who was part of the delegation headed by AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh which returned from Nepal yesterday.

Briefing reporters today, Mr Ahmed said the delegation met representatives of all political parties, including Maoist leader Prachanda and Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, besides the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

''The CEC told us that election material has been sent to the polling stations,'' he said.

Asked whether the Congress saw any role for the Monarch in the new set-up, Mr Ahmed said it was for the people of Nepal to decide.

''India and the Congress want that the democratic set-up is strengthened in Nepal,'' he added.

The delegation was sent apparently after BJP senior leader L K Advani accused the Congress-led UPA Government of being a ''silent onlooker'' in Nepal.

UNI YJ VD KN1836