Oli raises concern over possible staggered House elections

KATHMANDU: CPN-UML leader and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has expressed concerns that the upcoming House of Representatives elections may not be held all at once.

Speaking at the party’s central secretariat meeting in Chyasal on Tuesday, Oli briefed senior leaders on the situation.

Citing Oli, UML Deputy General Secretary Lekhraj Bhatta said discussions are ongoing within the party on how to approach the elections.

Bhatt added that Oli instructed party leaders and cadres to prepare for the elections as the external environment appears ready, but also emphasized that the process should be treated as a political movement.

Oli highlighted uncertainty caused by government activities and ongoing communal incidents in the country, which could affect whether the elections happen simultaneously or in phases. “It’s natural for leaders to discuss how to approach the elections. While the environment externally seems ready, we must prepare. The elections should be treated as a movement. However, government actions and communal events have created uncertainty. The polls may not happen all at once—they could be postponed or held in phases, and we must be mentally prepared for that,” Bhatta quoted Oli as saying.

He further noted that the party has been instructed to be psychologically ready for phased elections if necessary.