Rejecting the Government’s call to take part in the election, Rashtriya Janta Party Nepal (RJPN) said in a press release stating its decision not to participate in local elections till its demands were met remained unchanged.

In a press statement, RJPN Coordinator Mahantha Thakur said that its protest against local polls would continue.

“We could not accept the government’s ‘unilateral decisions’ about local polls going against the understanding reached with the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal,” said Thakur.

The statement stated that it would take out baton rallies in Madhes and Tharuhat on Saturday and impose general strike in Madhes on Sunday.

He said that other protest programmes announced on June 11 would remain unchanged.

The government had yesterday decided to defer local polls in Province 2 till September 18. The government’s decision to hold the second phase of local polls in Provinces 1, 5 and 7 on June 28 remains unchanged.

They would impose an indefinite general strike from June 24.

During the general strike, the FA will urge people to boycott the polls, padlock election offices and organise demonstrations and vigils in rural municipalities, municipalities, sub-metropolis and metropolis.