Former prime minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has alleged that attempts were being made to postpone the second phase of local level elections scheduled for June 14 on various pretexts.

Addressing a victory rally in Pokhara Lekhnath Metropolitan City on Saturday, where the UML won both mayoral and deputy mayoral posts, Oli said that it was time to seek national consensus, instead of looking for ways to postpone the polls.

“If democracy is to be institutionalised, all the three elections should be held at any cost,” Oli said, adding that delaying the elections just to appease the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal would not benefit the country.

The opposition leader said the RJPN leaders should also not speak against the elections for the sake of protest. “Let’s talk about [constitution] amendment after the elections. Whatever demands are tabled, let’s discuss them after the polls. But let’s not delay the election,” he said.

Oli directed the party’s winners to take all the forces into confidence in order to work for the betterment of the municipalities and village councils. “The 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 instructed the victorious candidates.