Prime Minister (PM) Sushila Karki and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli held a 45-minute conversation at the PM's residence in Baluwatar on Thursday.
Oli reached Baluwatar at 10 in the morning along with party leader Bishnu Rimal. In addition to PM Karki, her Chief Personal Secretary Adarsha Shrestha and Press Advisor Ram Rawal were also present during the discussion.
During the meeting, Oli drew the government's attention to ensuring that the election is held in a single phase on March 5. "One hears responsible government officials saying that the election will be held in two phases. It should be held in a single phase," a Baluwatar source quoted Oli as saying.
In several Himalayan districts such as Manang, Mustang, Dolpa, Mugu, and Humla, snowfall occurs in the month of March. People from the upper regions often descend to areas where there is no snow. Chiefs of local levels there have even drawn attention to the fact that it would be difficult for staff to reach some polling stations if it snows.
PM Karki stated that if voting is halted due to snowfall, polling at those specific locations could be conducted on another day.
Political party leaders have also been drawing the government's attention, stating that the election should not be held in two phases. Nepali Communist Party (NCP) Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Oli have been saying that the election should not be conducted in two phases.
A Baluwatar source said that Oli emphasized the same point today. "In today's conversation, Oli stated that the election should not be held in two phases. The PM's stance is also the same," a source associated with Baluwatar said.
Similarly, PM Karki stated that the election campaigning among parties should be harmonious. She also expressed concern regarding some sensitive districts, including Jhapa. In response, Oli maintained that UML is in favor of a peaceful, clean, healthy, and free election.
Oli’s secretariat also informed that he met PM Karki on Thursday to draw attention to making arrangements for holding the election everywhere on the same scheduled date and not conducting it in two phases. "Attention has been drawn to the fact that the election must be held on the same scheduled date and cannot be done in two phases," Oli’s secretariat said.
