Former Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli said various pretexts were being raised to postpone the second phase of local bodies election.

Addressing a party's victory assembly in Pokhara Lekhnath Metropolitan city, where UML won both mayoral and deputy mayoral posts, Oli said it was time to seek national consensus instead of looking for ways to postpone the elections.

"If democracy is to be institutionalised, all three-tier election should be held at any cost," Oli said. He said delaying election just to appease the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal would not benefit the country.

Oli said the leaders of RJPN should also not speak against election to favor protests. "Let's talk about amendment after the election. Whatever demands are tabled, let's discuss it after the election. But lets not delay election putting forth various pre-conditions," he said.

Oli directed party's victorious candidates to take all parties onboard and work for the betterment of the municipalities and village councils. "UML is a medium to make this country prosperous. You should include all the parties and work in an unbiased manner for your municipality and village council," he directed.