Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Friday reiterated his commitment to the upcoming elections, saying both federal and provincial polls will be held on the announced dates.

PM Deuba made a renewed commitment to the two polls, scheduled for November 26 and December 7, at a programme organised by the Election Commission in the Capital.

Amid speculation in the wake of a left electoral alliance formed by the CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Centre) and Naya Shakti Nepal on October 3 that the government was attempting to postpone the polls, PM Deuba on Thursday also had told top leaders of the two left forces that his government was committed to holding the elections on the scheduled dates and that there were no plans to postpone them. 

PM Deuba on Friday also signed a commitment paper prepared by the EC seeking parties’ contribution in holding the elections in a free and fair manner. “The government and my party, the Nepali Congress, express full cooperation to the EC for holding the polls on the scheduled dates,” said Deuba. 

UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Naya Shakti Nepal Coordinator Baburam Bhattarai and Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav among others also signed the commitment paper expressing their full cooperation for free and fair elections.

The EC has sought all the parties’ commitment that they will not violate the election code of conduct. 

UML Chairman Oli said that his party was committed to abiding by the rules, procedures and the code of conduct issued by the EC. He called on the EC to take stern action against those who violate the poll code of conduct.

Later while talking to journalists, Deuba said “elections will take place”, as he repeated the phrase thrice. 

According to Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav, the election body has not received any request from PM Deuba and political party leaders for postponing the elections. 

“All of them have supported the election programme that we have published,” he said.