Agitating political parties have reiterated their vow to actively boycott the parliamentary election ordered by King Gyanendra within mid-April 2007.

Speaking at an interaction organised by the Reporters Club Friday, leaders of the seven-party alliance, which is waging a pro-democracy movement against what it calls “autocratic royal regime”, said the announcement of parliamentary vote was yet another stratagem to elongate the King’s direct rule and that the parties would go against it.

“The announcement of parliamentary election is sheer hogwash. There will be no election in the present situation. Parties are not going to let them take place,” declared Nepali Congress (NC) general secretary Ram Chandra Poudel.

The NC leader predicted that there would be a major political upheaval in the country before the elections took place.

Speaking at the same program, CPN (UML) leader Bam Dev Gautam said, “It’s a duty of the democratic forces to expose the conspiracy being hatched in the name of elections”. “Those participating in such polls will end up as buffoons.”

According to him, the parties are rather readying for the election of the constituent assembly to write a new constitution to end the crisis facing the country. “Election of the constituent assembly is the only way to find an outlet to the crisis.”

Acting president of the Nepali Congress (Democratic), Gopal Man Shrestha, also spoke in the similar lines.

Similarly, Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) leader Sarvendra Nath Sukla was of the view that elections would mean nothing unless a proper environment is created.

Differing with the alliance leaders, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) leader Kamal Thapa said the King’s announcement [of parliamentary vote] is a crucial step towards resolving the crisis.

“Election of the House of Representatives may lead to a solution to the twin problems that of the Maoist conflict and the constitutional crisis,” Thapa opined.

The King in his message to the nation on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami on Wednesday pledged to conduct free and fair polls of the parliament within 2007 and urged the international community to extend active support in this process. He also called on the Maoists to shun violence and join the political mainstream.