PM defends decision calling for new election polls

In an address to the nation from his residence Baluwatar this midnight, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said there was no alternative to announcing fresh election of the Constituent Assembly.
Bhattarai claimed that the government had to take the election decision after the [Maoist] proposal to issue the constitution through the CA procedures was rejected [by NC and UML] and that there were attempts to abort the constitution-drafting process. He said seeking fresh mandate would be the best option "to keep alive the aspirations of the people for change".
He also claimed that the government would successfully conduct the elections on 22 November this year, expressing hope that the President would approve the cabinet decision.