Leaders of various political parties have urged the government to focus on the March elections. During an all-party meeting at Prime Minister Sushila Karki’s residence on Friday, they said that they are ready for the polls, and so the government should fully focus on election preparations.

Leaders who took part in the discussion said they shared updates on their preparations.

“Election itself is the path to restoring the rule of law in society,” Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Sobita Gautam told reporters after the meeting. “We emphasised the need to hold the elections. Our focus is on conducting them in a free and fear-free environment.”

Present at the meeting were leaders of several political parties, heads of security agencies, and office-bearers of the Elections Commission.

According to Prakash Jwala, a leader of the Nepal Communist Party, party representatives urged the government not to be distracted by other matters and stay focused on the elections. “We have suggested that the government move forward in a way that strengthens law and order.”

Nepali Congress representatives said the government should take potential security threats seriously. “We are ready to take part in the elections but the government should be held responsible for any kind of security threat,” Pushpa Bhusal of the party said.

“There can be no excuse for the failure to hold elections on March 5.”

Bhusal said the prime minister has pledged to hold timely elections and assured that she is ready to face any challenge.

Rastriya Swatantra Party’s Sishir Khanal and Gautam urged the government to ensure voting rights for Nepali citizens living abroad. They also raised the issue of their party chief, Rabi Lamichhane, who is currently in Nakkhu jail. He is in judicial custody over allegations of misusing cooperative funds.

“We said we have supported the government from the very start, and that our internal preparations are also directed towards the elections,” Khanal told reporters after the meeting.

Also present at the meeting were Finance Minister Rameshore Khanal, Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, Law Minister Anil Kumar Sinha, and Communications Minister Jagadish Kharel.

On the political parties’ side, leaders from the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML, the Nepal Communist Party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, the Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, and the Janamat Party took part.

Also in attendance was a seven-member delegation of the Election Commission—including Acting Chief Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari, the two other commissioners, the secretary, and the joint secretary.

Home Minister Aryal and chiefs of the four security bodies briefed the meeting on the security situation and election preparations.

Acting Chief Commissioner Bhandari presented details showing how the commission is working in full swing and making significant progress.

Prime Minister Karki termed the meeting “the most important and result-oriented so far in terms of creating an election-friendly environment”, a statement issued by her secretariat said.

“Even if there are doubts or concerns, they make us more alert and help us move forward,” the statement quoted her as saying.

“It is your responsibility to tell us what the current situation is and what kind of obstacles exist. We may see things from one perspective; you add your own perspective. This gives us the opportunity to improve and move ahead,” she told parties.

Regarding the ongoing court hearing on House restoration, Prime Minister Karki said, “Whatever the courts must do, they will do within their own domain. Had there been an interim order against us, we would have had to sit with our hands tied.”

“This government was formed to address the questions that arose after the youth uprising. It came to manage this transitional period. It is committed to fulfilling its duties.”

She said the government has held continuous and repeated discussions with all sides—Gen Z, the Election Commission, security agencies, civil society, and other stakeholders—and addressed their concerns and doubts.

“The army has also begun its work. The police are continuously working to establish rule of law,” the statement quoting Karki said.

“All 126 parties must adopt the position that elections must be held. If we are united, no one can disrupt the elections.”

The first layer of security is the people themselves, the community, and then the police, Armed Police Force, and the army, she told the meeting.

“We [this government] emerged from the Gen Z movement, but we are not enemies of political parties. You must understand that elections are essential also to establish political parties themselves.”

“Within parties too, we may have said that youth should get space,” Karki said. “But people decide who wins and who loses.”

“We have no personal interests or ambitions. We are not working for any special gain. In a difficult situation, we were called upon, the nation trusted us, and we responded to that call. Our only objective is to fulfill this responsibility the country has entrusted to us.”

Please stand together for the elections, she said.