The chief of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), Ian Martin, has said that “considerable challenges” remain for the holding of free and fair election to constituent assembly scheduled for November.

Talking to reporters at the UN headquarters in New York , Thursday, after briefing the Security Council in which the Nepal report presented by UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon was discussed, Martin said, “Improvement in the political and security situation is vital for the holding of credible polls.”

He said that although the peace process started in the country with the cessation of conflict between the government and the Maoists, it has become “increasingly more complicated as traditionally marginalised groups ask for fair representation in the process.”

“Dialogue with these groups needs to continue to ensure that there is a consensus so that the electoral system will operate fairly so far as all groups are concerned,” he said, adding that cooperation among political parties is also crucial to create “a situation in which they respect each other’s rights to campaign and to avoid the intimidation of voters.”