Nepali Congress to participate in House of Representatives election

KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress has decided to participate in the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5.

The decision was made by the party’s Central Working Committee meeting held on Saturday at the party’s Sanepa office.

Concluding that elections are the only appropriate way out of the current political situation following the announcement of the election date, the committee formally endorsed participation in the polls.

Party spokesperson Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat said the Congress believes that safeguarding the constitution and institutionalizing the calls for change raised during the recent demonstrations can only be achieved through elections.

The meeting also decided to register the party at the Election Commission for both the National Assembly and House of Representatives elections. However, the party expressed concern over the prevailing conditions, including thousands of absconding convicts, missing weapons in large numbers, and restrictions on political parties conducting their activities freely, stating that these issues pose a serious challenge to a free and safe election environment.

The Congress urged the Election Commission, the government, and concerned authorities to create the necessary environment for fair, credible, and fearless elections.

Similarly, the meeting called for immediate improvements in law and order, boosting the morale of security personnel, and ensuring a sense of safety among citizens. It also appealed to all sides to avoid violence or provocation, refrain from politics of prohibition, maintain restraint, and seek solutions through dialogue.

Spokesperson Mahat said the party aims to make a unified and consensual decision regarding its general convention.