Kathmandu, Oct. 19 -- It is the government's job to build an atmosphere for free and fair elections. To that end, the ceremonial president is playing an active role, too.

In recent weeks, President Ramchandra Paudel has organised a series of consultations with the prime minister, ministers, political party leaders, heads of security agencies, representatives of the Gen Z movement that ousted the KP Sharma Oli-led coalition government, as well as with civil society members.

On Saturday, Paudel, alongside Prime Minister of the interim government Sushila Karki, consulted ministers and heads of all four security agencies, with an aim to lay the groundwork for free and fair elections.

The President instructed the heads of the government and...