Maoists hold consultation on electoral system

Top Maoist leaders have held consultations with election experts and intellectuals for the kind of electoral system to be adopted by the country when it gets new constitution.

The Maoist leaders met with former chief election commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokhrel, former election commissioner Dr Birendra Prasad Mishra and journalist Shyam Shrestha at a hotel in Kupandole Tuesday morning.

The experts are learnt to have advised for three kinds of electoral system including direct election of president if the president is the chief executive of the country with state assemblies empowered to make recommendations to the president on important national issues.

When the country is converted into federalism, as per experts, it is advisable for proportionate electoral system at the state level. According to Shyam Shrestha, the Maoist leaders have been advised not to adopt same electoral system in central, state and local level elections.

Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, senior leaders Dr Baburam Bhattarai, Dev Gurung, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Giriraj Mani Pokhrel and others were present in the discussion.

The Maoist initiative comes at the time parties remain divided on forms of electoral system at the CA committee for determination of form of governance. nepalnews.com ia June 16 09