Leaders of opposition political parties have said they do not regard the elected candidates in the municipal polls as people’s representatives.

Speaking at a face-to-face program on Thursday at the Reporters Club, standing committee member of the CPN (UML) KP Oli said the agitating seven-party alliance would not regard the newly elected members of municipalities across the country as authoritative persons.

He argued that Wednesday’s election provided that people have no confidence towards the present rulers. Oli was more critical of Home Minister Kamal Thapa “because of whose order an UML cadre, Umesh Chandra Thapa, had to lose his life at the hands of security forces in Dang”.

Central committee member of Nepali Congress Arjun Narsingh KC said that most of the votes cast in yesterday’s election were proxy and that the state terrorised the people to participate in the voting.

He claimed that not more than 5 percent of the total votes cast on Wednesday were legal while all others were cast by organized gangs or by family member of the government employees, who were ordered to compulsorily cast their votes, or by the security personnel.

He said Umesh Thapa became the first martyr in the fight for complete democracy.

Dr Narayan Khadka of Nepali Congress (Democratic) was of the view the elections signaled that the King should face defeat should there be a fair and peaceful election to constituent assembly.

He said there was no possibility of immediate talks with the King even if Maoist chairman Prachanda has put forward the agenda of unconditional dialogue.

Defense specialist Dr Karna Bahadur Thapa defended the heavy presence of security personnel in the polling booths on the election day. He said that Royal Nepalese Army played good role in protecting the right of the people in yesterday’s election. He, however, denied comment on the killing of a UML cadre in Dang by security forces.

Former member of Election Commission Biswhoman Shrestha said that even if Nepal’s law does not demarcate the extent by which any election would become legitimate, Wednesday’s election would not, however, be taken as a legitimate election.

Speaking at the same program, Govinda Khaniya of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Thapa) defended the municipal polls. He insisted that the election was a success despite opposition from the Maoist rebels and major political parties.

Municipal election ended on Wednesday amid strong protests from mainstream political parties and armed clash between the Maoists and the government forces in different parts of the country.