UML throws weight behind President over ordinance row

The CPN (UML) Monday said rejection of the election ordinances by President Ram Baran Yadav was a welcome move.

Issuing a press statement, UML vice chairman Bam Dev Gautam said that criticising the President for turning down the ordinances is "undemocratic and authoritarian act" and that the President's move was nothing but usual.

Gautam said that the government presented the ordinances without constitutional and political authority and that all sides should refrain from carrying out bad publicity against the only functioning elected institution [presidency] to fulfill partisan interests.

The ruling parties have come down strongly against President Yadav for not approving the two election-related ordinances forwarded to him by the government, accusing him of trying to seek an active role.

The President's office said in a statement on Friday that saw no relevance in issuing the ordinance in view of the Election Commission's formal notification to the government that it would not be able to conduct fresh Constituent Assembly elections on November 22 due to lack of political consensus and necessary laws. nepalnews.com