In what is seen as fresh indication of the country heading towards confrontation, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has said it will disrupt municipal elections slated on February 8, next year.

Maoist chairman Prachanda
(Photo courtesy: Nepali Times/Girish Pokrel – Nepali Post)

In a joint statement issued Thursday, chairman of CPN (Maoist), Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda, and senior Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai, said their party had decided to disrupt the municipal polls announced by the royal government “as it would not resovle the problems facing the country.”

They have alleged the government of not responding to their call for four-month-long unilateral ceasefire. The extended ceasefire comes to an end on January 2, next year.

“By shutting down all doors of peaeful political exit, the government has pushed people towards a situation of ‘do or die,” the statement said.

The authorities, however, refused to reciprocate to the Maoists’ ceasefire saying that the rebels could not be trusted.

Analysts say the unilateral ceasefire called by the Maoists stands as good as ‘withdrawn’ in the wake of recent political developments.

The CPN (Maoist) has also announced nationwide protest programmes coinciding with the municiapl polls. They said the CPN (Maoist) will mobilise masses, organise mass meetings and coordinate their programmes of protess with that of the seven party opposition alliance.

The seven-party opposition alliance has already announced that it will not take part in any eletions to be conducted by what it calls an ‘unconstitutional government.’

The authorities, however, say they are committed to hold elections. They say elections are a form of democratic exercise and will take place whether major parties will take part or not.

Home Minister Kamal Thapa is chairing a meeting of security chiefs in mid-western town of Nepalgunj on Thursday to review the security situation ahead of the municipal polls.

Regional and administrators from Far and Mid-West Development Regions, chief district officers and heads of various security organisations are taking part in the meeting.

Earlier, Home Minister Thapa had warned that the government would take action against anybody who tries to disrupt elections.

The opposition parties have, however, said they will boycott elections and will call upon the masses to follow suit.

Meanwhile, reports say the UN system in Kathmandu is organising a press meet this afternoon. Details were not immediately available.