Kathmandu: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jagdish Kharel, has stated that the political dialogue held by the government on Tuesday has created an atmosphere conducive to conducting elections. For the first time since the formation of the current government, a significant dialogue was convened with major political leaders and government officials to foster an environment suitable for elections and promote good governance.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the five-hour-long meeting highlighted the expectations of political parties and the government’s commitment to holding the March 5 election in a free and fair manner. The meeting, which brought together representatives from seven major political parties, was initiated by Prime Minister Sushila Karki at her official residence in Baluwatar.
Prime Minister Karki reaffirmed the government’s determination to conduct the election on the scheduled date. “It was a very positive discussion with the political parties. Most of them were positive towards election that encouraged the government to forward activities,” stated Minister Kharel to the media following the meeting on Tuesday night.
Minister Kharel emphasized that all stakeholders, including political parties and Gen-Z, have demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility in contributing to the creation of an electoral atmosphere. He added that ministers and security agencies are working diligently to ensure this.
The discussions were comprehensive, covering topics such as election preparation, corruption control, and the security situation. Political parties were briefed on the government’s readiness for the election and urged to cooperate in establishing a secure environment for a free and fair electoral process. The collective dialogue, as opposed to previous one-on-one meetings between PM Karki and top political leaders, has further bolstered trust among the parties, as noted by the spokesperson.
The meeting also garnered recognition from all sides, including political parties, Gen-Z, and the international community. Issues such as investigations into the loss of lives and property and necessary actions were also discussed.
Minister Kharel reflected on how the country has stabilized a month after Gen-Z protests, fostering political trust and paving the way for dialogue. He also mentioned that the Cabinet would be expanded immediately after the Tihar festival.
Attendees included prominent figures such as Gagan Kumar Thapa and Prakash Sharan Mahat from the Nepali Congress, Shankar Pokharel and Pradip Gyawali from the CPN UML, Barsha Man Pun and Pampha Bhusal from the CPN (Maoist Centre), among others. Government representatives included PM Karki, Finance Minister Rameshwor Khanal, Energy Minister Kulman Ghising, Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, Minister for Agriculture Dr Madan Pariyar, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Kharel, and PM’s Chief Advisor, Ajay Bhadra Khanal.