<p><span style="line-height: 1.42857;">Chief Election Commissioner Dr Ayodhee Prasad Yadav has urged the media to take up the responsibility of a watchdog to make the upcoming local level election in a free, fair and fear-free manner.</span><br></p><p><br></p><p>CEC Yadav said this while addressing a workshop titled 'Dissemination of Balanced News in the Forthcoming Local Level Election and Importance of News', organized today by Tribhuvan University Central Department of Journalism and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).</p><p><br></p><p>The country has been overwhelmed with the election fervor and the media has played a laudable role in this, he said.</p><p><br></p><p>CEC Yadav said he has found that the media has been together with the voters in the election mega campaign that is intensifying in the villages and localities in a positive way.</p><p><br></p><p>Chief of the TU Central Department of Journalism, Chiranjibi Khanal underlined the need for the journalists to work in an impartial manner while covering the election.</p><p><br></p><p>JICA representative in Nepal Jun Sakuma said the mass media has a significant role to play for a free, fair and impartial election.</p><p><br></p><p>she said it would provide logistics and technical assistance to the Election Commission.</p><p><br></p><p><b>All parties' participation makes election meaningful: CEC Yadav</b></p><p><br></p><p>Chief Election Commissioner Dr Ayodhi Prasad Yadav has urged all political parties to participate in the election to make it meaningful.&nbsp;</p><p>Receiving a memorandum submitted by the Interparty Women's Network today, CEC Yadav said, participation of all ethnic groups including women in election fosters democracy.</p><div><br></div>

<p><span style="line-height: 1.42857;">The ruling parties' meeting held at the Prime Minister's official residence at Baluwatar today has urged the Madhesi Front to participate in local poll slated for May 14. &nbsp;</span><br></p><p><br></p><p>Following the meeting, CPN (Maoist Centre) leader, Barsha Man Pun shared that the meeting was positive regarding the Front's participation in the election along with forwarding the amendment bill. &nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Leader Pun added that the amendment bill could be revised if the Front assures their participation in the election.</p><p><br></p><p>In the meeting, PM Dahal urged the Madheshi Front's leaders come on board and contest in the upcoming May 14 election by forging consensus on the constitution amendment bill registered in the parliament.</p><p><br></p><p>One of the major parties of the Front, Rastriya Janata Party's leader Laxman Lal Karna clarified that they would contest in the election if the constitution amendment bill with revision would be endorsed by the parliament.</p>

<p><span style="line-height: 1.42857;">Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Bimalendra Nidhi has instructed the concerned authority to put in place a mechanism to outlet the water in the blocked Arun river in Sankhuwasabha carefully so as to mitigate the risk of inundation of human settlement in Barun Bazar.</span></p><p><br></p><p>The flood debris in Barun river in the district had been blocking the water in Arun river in Syakshila Gola in Bhote Khola rural municipality since last evening.</p><p><br></p><p>A two-kilometre long artificial lake was formed following the blockage of the river. &nbsp;Three houses in Barun Bazar received damages due to the damming of the river while four houses are said to be at high risk.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.42857;">A team of technical officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), Nepal Army as well as Armed Police Force are preparing to fly to Barun Bazar in a chopper for the management of the disaster as well as for the mitigation of the risk, according to the MoHA.</span></p><p>The Barun river merges with the Arun river.&nbsp;</p><p>According to Chief District Officer in Sankhuwasabha, Shivaraj Joshi, there are 36 police personnel being deployed in the site where water in the Arun River is blocked.&nbsp;</p><p>State-Minister for Health, Taraman Gurung is learnt to be on his way for the inspection of the site.</p>