Mock polls to test govt's popularity

KATHMANDU: Youth and student unions affiliated to various political parties in the opposition are set to conduct mini polls in the Kathmandu Valley tomorrow to know which government the people prefer — the incumbent ruling coalition or a national consensus government.

They will conduct the elections in 21 places and in various colleges, including Ratna Rajya Campus and Tri-Chandra Campus.

The polls are part of the second phase protest of the Joint Agitation Coordination Committee (JACC).

Ramesh Poudel, secretariat member of the CPN-UML-aligned Youth Federation Nepal (YFN), today said a joint meeting of the students and youth decided to conduct the polls between 10 am and 5 pm.

He said they have prepared around 100,000 ballot papers for the polls. 

Poudel said voters will have to choose one of the two options — the incumbent government or a national consensus government — while casting their votes.

The agitated youth and students have been appealing to the public to participate in the polls.

“Various students unions will take care of polls at various places,while YFN

will look after polls in two districts — Lalitpur and Bhaktapur — and Ratnapark in Kathmandu,” he added.

JACC has urged members of the general public, journalists, civil society members and others to take part and monitor the polls tomorrow.

The students and youth will complete the vote count by August 17 and submit the results to the President on August 19.

In a bid to make the government quit, the agitated youth and students have

already opted for a number of protest programmes, including valley bandh and Nepal bandh.

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE