General Secretary of CPN (UML) Madab Kumar Nepal said that preparations for the May/June constituent assembly elections need to start immediately, as decided by the parliament.

Speaking to the press at a program in Sunsari, Nepal said that the budget has already been allocated for the elections. "But we need to finalise all the logistics involved in the elections by next month."

According to Himalkhabar.com, Nepal added that he was worried so little was being done to get the process rolling and that no one was even talking about nominating a new election commissioner. "The issues relating to disarmament, interim constitution, citizenship distribution, national and international monitors have to be finalised in the coming month," Nepal said.

Meanwhile, US ambassador to Nepal James F Moriarty met with Nepal at UML central committed office in Balkhu on Saturday morning and discussed the issue of arms management and the ongoing peace process. Moriarty emphasised the need to disarm the Maoists before allowing them to join the interim government. His meeting with Nepal came soon after Moriarty's return from western Nepal.