CPN-UML Deputy General Secretary Pradeep Gyawali has said the upcoming election may not take place on time because of the way the current government is handling the situation.
Speaking at a press conference organized by Press Chautari Nepal’s Dang chapter in Tulsipur on Thursday, Gyawali said Prime Minister Sushila Karki’s recent statement—where she reportedly remarked that she does not even want to see the faces of top political leaders—has created an unfavorable setting for holding elections.
“The Prime Minister says she does not want to see the faces of KP Oli, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and Prachanda. Whether an individual named Sushila Karki wants to see our faces or not does not matter to us. We are not eager to show our faces either. But can the head of the government speak like that?” Gyawali said.
He added that political parties have a long history and may have made mistakes, but it is the people who have the right to evaluate them. Gyawali said the current climate of fear and intimidation makes it difficult to conduct elections. According to him, instead of bringing everyone together, the Prime Minister is distancing herself from political leaders.
He also criticized the Home Minister for making threatening remarks and pointed out that individuals close to the government have been issuing public threats such as, “Let’s see who goes to the polls,” “We will drag people from their homes,” and “Even if you win, we will annul your victory.”
Despite these statements, Gyawali said the government has remained silent and has even protected individuals who openly threaten physical harm. “Is this how a government responsible for conducting elections behaves?” he asked.
Past Government Conduct and Suspicion Over Election Intentions
Gyawali also compared the current leadership with past interim governments led by Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Khil Raj Regmi, noting that they never made such statements. He recalled the period after the 2006 People’s Movement when Girija Prasad Koirala served as Prime Minister.
“I was in the Cabinet at that time. The Maoists still had weapons, yet the government brought them into the peace process and held the Constituent Assembly election. Did that government speak like this? Did it threaten other parties?” he said.
Gyawali said these developments suggest that the current government does not appear committed to holding elections. “We have serious doubts that the government intends to conduct elections. It seems to be moving toward something else,” he said.
