Ruling Nepali Congress (NC) leaders seem to have been sharply divided over conduction of local level elections slated for May 14.

NC senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel and General Secretary Shashanka Koirala, while talking to journalists at Biratnagar Airport on Tuesday, expressed differing opinions regarding postponement of elections to bring the Madhesi Morcha—an alliance of Madhes-centric parties protesting the constitution—on board the local level elections.

Poudel was of the opinion that the elections should be conducted in a single phase on the slated date by bringing all the dissenting paties on board the elections while Koirala argued that it was important to bring the Madhes-based parties on board the polls even by postponing the elections.

"Morcha should be brought on board the elections even by deferring the elections by a week or 10 days," said Koirala. He was for holding elections in two phases if it leads to Morcha participating in the polls.

On the other hand, leader Poudel was rigid on conducting elections on pre-determined date saying the country was not able to move ahead towards the path of prosperity because elections were not held in the country for a long period.