Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has said that UML is not opposed to the elections. In an interview with Kantipur Daily, he said that UML is seeking security and fairness in the elections. He said, "The UML was not opposed to the elections from the beginning. It had been saying that it was ready to participate in the elections if they could provide security and if they were fair. It had only raised questions about the legitimacy of the government by saying that we are not against the elections." From the very beginning, the UML had been saying that it would participate if the elections were fair and secure, and the government had guaranteed security. He said that there was no truth in the rumors that the elections could be stopped now. He claimed that there was no legitimacy in such rumors and suspicions. He said, "You have said from the very beginning that you will participate in the elections if the elections are fair and well-secured. UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel and others had said this in our formal and informal meetings. The UML representatives came at a time when the government called for discussions. Therefore, it cannot be said that this environment has been created only after the meeting between the UML chairman and the Prime Minister. That was their concern from the beginning. They were looking for assurances about peace and security and whether the elections would be held fairly. We gave that assurance.'