Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: At a time when the country is focused on the upcoming elections, former king Gyanendra Shah has said polls alone would not resolve all of Nepal’s problems.
“This election alone will not solve all problems. It would be appropriate to go to the polls only after forging an agreement among all parties,” he said in a video message released on the eve of Democracy Day on Wednesday evening.
The government and political parties are currently preparing for the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5. Political parties have been reaching out to people with their respective agendas, while the Election Commission has said that final preparations for the vote are underway.
Shah said it would be appropriate to proceed to elections only after reaching a consensus among all sides. “Although periodic elections are a natural process, it would be proper to first resolve national issues before holding elections,” he said. “To ensure that there is no conflict or unrest surrounding the elections, it would have been the right path to move forward only after building national consensus and understanding.”
Shah said the country’s very existence and identity appear to be in crisis. “The time has come for self-reflection on what the changes made in the name of struggle have actually given to Nepal and its people,” he said.
