KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka has said the party is ready to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections if the government creates a conducive and credible environment for voting.
“The Nepali Congress, as a democratic party, is prepared to go to the polls once the necessary conditions for free and fair elections are ensured,” Khadka said while addressing a memorial event in Surkhet on Tuesday marking the 13th death anniversary of former party president Govinda Bahadur Malla. “So far, the government has done nothing to demonstrate its readiness to conduct the elections.”
Khadka said if the government is truly committed to holding elections, it must first recover weapons looted during the Gen-Z protests, boost the morale of security forces, build trust with political parties taking part in the elections, and assure citizens of a secure and peaceful atmosphere.
“The government should focus on restoring security, confidence, and credibility,” he said. “Instead, it is busy maligning political leaders, spreading confusion, and deepening uncertainty.”
The acting party president also said the Congress is open to any legitimate investigation process but warned the government against targeting opposition leaders through bias and misinformation.
“We are ready to face any lawful investigation,” he said, “but responsible officials in the government are creating confusion and leveling baseless accusations. I want to draw the government’s serious attention to this behavior.”
Khadka added that the ongoing Central Working Committee meeting of the Nepali Congress will take formal decisions regarding the party’s election strategy, internal convention, and the current political situation.
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