CA election both opportunity and challenge: Dahal

CHITWAN, Nov 9: UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that holding Constituent Assembly (CA) election is necessary to draft a people-friendly constitution.



Addressing a rally in Bharatpur, Chitwan on Saturday, Dahal said, "Though the last CA could not draft a constitution, it played a crucial role in the abolition of monarchy. Secularism, abolishment of monarchy, among others, are the historical achievements of the last CA." He claimed that the achievements made during the last CA would be in jeopardy, if his party does not get the majority. [break]



He claimed that only his party has the strength to institutionalize the changes that took place after the second people´s movement. "The CA election is both opportunity and challenge," said Dahal, adding, "To form a stable government would be a challenge for the next CA." However, he was quick to add that his party would make an effort to form a stable government to give political outlet to the country.



Dahal accused the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML of failing live up to their words. "NC and UML have always made tall promises but never done anything for the country," he claimed. Dahal insisted that his party was the only single progressive force in the country.



Meanwhile, at the same function, UCPN (Maoist) leader Baburam Bhattari said that constitution would not be drafted again if other parties got the majority. "The political parties that played key role in the attempt to suppress the Maoist rebellion will not draft people-friendly constitution," claimed Bhattarai.



"To ensure the proper representation of Dalit, women, indigenous, among others, our party needs a clear majority," he added.



Meanwhile, addressing a poll campaign at Makawanpur on Saturday, Dahal said, "The Baidya-led CPN-Maoist´s attempt to disrupt the campaigns of our party by calling strikes is working in my favor. It has propelled me to the ranks of a true national leader," Dahal said.



In a bid to foil the campaign of UCPN (Maoist) Chief Dahal, the agitating Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist had called strike on Saturday in Chitwan.

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