Bond, Here's my take on the feasibility of elections -- local or national (Sambidhaan Sabhaa) -- in Nepal as it stands today: Elections are MEANINGLESS unless and until they are firmly embedded in two key principles of democracy: FREE and FAIR. With the Maoists terrorizing much of the countryside and the King's men doing the same to the rest of the country, the possibility of holding a FREE and FAIR elections in Nepal today is next to impossible. I personally would not opt for an election for the sake of one, if it is NOT to guarantee an outcome that is as genuinely reflective as possible of people's desires. Therefore, before we can even fathom an idea of elections in Nepal, I believe: a. First and foremost, democracy MUST be restored b. Peaceful settlement with the Maoists must be sought in a DEMOCRATIC framework created in a.