Rejection of ordinances by President undemocratic and unconstitutional: PM's political advisor

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai's political advisor Devendra Poudel Saturday said that rejection of two election ordinances by President Ram Baran Yadav was "undemocratic and unconstitutional".

Devendra Poudel (File Photo)

"Turning down the ordinances presented is anything but democratic ... neither it is constitutional," Poudel said at a programme in the capital. He argued that the environment for election was being spoiled because of the President.

Poudel also said that the government would again forward the same ordinances to the President's Office as per "international law" and without any changes. He, however, did not explain which international law would favour the government's on this matter.

"The President does not have choice other than to approve the ordinances," said he, "How can electoral laws be introduced without the ordinance?"

Poudel was speaking a day after the President's office stated that it saw no relevance of issuing the ordinance as the Election Commission had already told the government that conducting the Constituent Assembly polls on 22 November was impossible in view of lack of political consensus and related laws.

Meanwhile, the PM's advisor also made it clear that the Prime Minister would not step down "just because the parties want him to do so".

"The PM will not pave the way until there is political consensus along with an alternative to the current government," said he. nepalnews.com