The Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) on Sunday announced that it would not participate in the municipal elections slated for February 8.

A statement issued by RJP spokesman Sarvendra Nath Sukla said the party has decided not to take part in the municipal elections considering the complex and shaky political situation in the country.

The party said it has come to the conclusion that elections conducted in the present difficult situation would not address the problems facing the country. “The RJP makes clear that it will not participate in the elections unless there is an atmosphere in which all political parties can participate after arriving at a holistic political solution,” the statement said.

Leaders of the party, including party chairman and former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, had been voicing opposition against the municipal polls for some time.

The agitating seven political parties which reached a 12-point understanding with the CPN (Maoist) two months ago have already announced to actively boycott the elections.