Friday, April 15 2005 13:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Rejecting King Gyanendra's declaration on holding municipal elections, major political parties today (Apr 15, 2005) said that the exercise would be meaningless unless democratic rights are restored and political prisoners freed.

"Free and fair elections are impossible at a time when the entire country and its people are kept under captivity," Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala said at a function in Kathmandu yesterday (Apr 14, 2005).

Reacting to the King's announcement of holding municipal elections within a year, Koirala demanded that the authorities create a conducive atmosphere for political activities, restoration of freedom of expression and release of all the political detainees before holding municipal elections.

Terming the King's announcement as a "unilateral", the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) said the Palace could have consulted with political parties, or the actors of the political system before announcing polls.

"This non-representative Government cannot hold elections and municipal polls alone cannot ensure a representative Government," CPN-UML standing committee member Khagda Prasad Oli said.

"Such a unilateral move further complicates the turmoil rather than help bring it to an end," he said.

Meanwhile, the CPN-UML issued a statement extending greetings on the Nepalese New Year's day yesterday and expressed the hope the New Year would bring lasting peace and complete democracy through a joint people's movement.

Gyanendra had yesterday announced that municipal polls would be held within a year to "activate the democratic process" in the Himalayan Kingdom, more than two months after he seized power ousting the elected Government.