Kathmandu, January 30
The Prachanda government is preparing to write to the Election Commission telling it to make preparations for conducting local level elections by Baishakh-end, 2074 (May 14, 2017).
Prime Minister Prachanda has said he will tell the commission to make preparations for elections.
According to a source, the Council of Ministers is preparing to write to the EC, telling it to do spadework for elections. PM Prachanda, who is preparing to expedite the election process, on Monday held a meeting with the ruling Nepali Congress and UDMF leaders.
At the meeting, UDMF leaders warned they will neither take part in elections nor let the elections take place unless and until the Parliament passes the Constitution Amendment 
Bill by incorporating their issues. The government will formally announce election date once the Parliament takes a final call on the government-sponsored Constitution amendment proposal.
PM Prachanda said the government will push ahead the amendment Bill, which has been pending in the Parliament, immediately. According to a leader, Prachanda has told UDMF leaders to come up with their clear stance on whether or not they will take part in elections regardless of whether the Bill sails through the House or not.
A leader of the CPN-Maoist Centre told Onlinekhabar: We should think if UDMF does not support us and does not intend to vote for the Bill. Otherwise, the amendment process will move ahead.
PM Prachanda said local level elections will take place as the government has already received a report of the Local Level Restructuring Commission. He asked UDMF to make its stance clear on the issue.
