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The CPN-UML today observed the 33th Madan- Ashrit Memorial Day by organizing a program at the party's central office in Madanagar, Balkhu. 

Jestha 3 in the Nepali calendar marks the death anniversary of communist leaders Madan Bhandari and Jibraj Ashrit who were killed after a jeep they were travelling in plunged into the Trirshuli River in Dasdhunga of Chitwan on May 16, 1993 (Jestha 3, 2050 BS). 

Bhandari was the then general secretary of UML and Ashrit was the chief of the organizational department. 

Former President and spouse of the late Bhandari, Bidya Devi Bhandari, vice chairs Ram Bahadur Thapa, Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Gokarna Raj Bista, general secretary Shankar Pokhrel, leaders Kesab Badal, Yubaraj Gyawali, Amrit Kumar Bohora and Astalaxmi Shakya were among those who visited the party headquarters to pay tributes to the late leaders. 

In his condolence message, party chair KP Sharma Oli called on the party rank and file to move ahead by recognizing the ideologies, contributions and struggles of the late leaders. 

Meanwhile, party vice chair Bishnu Prasad Paudel urged people in the party line to present themselves before the citizens with a spirit of self-criticism, acknowledging past shortcomings. 

During his address at a program commemorating the 33rd Madan-Ashrit Memorial Day, he stressed that the UML should be determined to regain the public trust and its decisive presence in national politics. 

He wanted the party leaders and cadres to properly assimilate the spirit of people's multi-party democracy. 

"The communist movement has reached the most challenging juncture in history and in a defensive phase. It is already late for us to make an objective analysis of whether we have been rightly guided by the people's multiparty democracy spirit," he underscored.

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said that the local government needs to focus on a long-term plan rather than the temporary politics.

At a program organized by Tokha Municipality to garner suggestions for upcoming policies, programs and budget today, Minister Khanal reiterated that it was not wise to stress immediate political benefit in the plans but the sustainable development approaches. 

"The local governments have the opportunity to work for the coming generation- for 20/25 years. So, shun shortsighted attitude," he asked. 

Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari paid tribute to the then general secretary of the CPN UML, Madan Bhadari, and chief of the Organization Department, Jibraj Ashrit.

She recalled the constructions of late Bhadari and Ashrit in Nepali communist movement. 

The leaders had worked untiringly for reaching communist movement among the general people, she added.

In a message of tribute she released today, the 33rd Memorial Day of Madan Bhandari and Jibraj Ashrit,  Bhandari said the 'people's multi-party democracy' propounded by the popular leader Madan Bhandari is instrumental in ensuring social justice, prosperity and transformation  via democratic system. 

She further argued that the leaders had played vital roles in establishing the UML as a dominant political party in the country. 

Similarly, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli paid tribute to the late Bhandari and Ashrit. 

He remembered the roles they played in consolidation of party organization and development. "I revere their contribution and pay tribute," he stated in a press release today.

According to leader Oli, both Bhandari and Ashrit were his close friends and leaders. "Although those past were painful, the haunting memory is further touching," he observed.

Nepali Communist Party (NCP) Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that his party would join a government in the Madhes Province provided that it was formed on the basis of an all-party consensus. 

Speaking at a press meet organized by the Press Center at Birendranagar, Surkhet today, the leader said the party was not in favor of forming the government in alliance with the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML.

"Our party will join the government only if it is formed with the participation of all parties including the Madhes-centric ones," he said, adding that the party had received separate proposals from the NC and UML for government formation in Madhes and such a proposal, he argued, were not entertained.