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UML central committee meeting on Wednesday insists on national consensus
Despite objections by some central committee members to staying neutral, the Wednesday meeting of the UML central committee concluded the party should not participate in the election on 18 August unless a national consensus government is in the offing.
With 109 votes, the UML has a decisive role in electing a new PM. The party has stayed neutral ever since its candidate, party chairman Jhalanath Khanal, failed to garner two thirds prior to the first round last month.
At the meeting, influential leader KP Oli argued the party should vote in the coming election to end the prolonged political uncertainty. Twenty central committee members, including Oli, even tabled a note of dissent against the party decision to hold its next meeting on 19 August, one day after the election, to review their decision to stay neutral. The dissenters wanted the party to hold a meeting before the election to decide on voting for one of the candidates.
“Today’s meeting concluded that only a national consensus government can complete the peace process and writing the constitution, so there has been no change in our position regarding the PM election,” Pradeep Gyawali told reporters after the meeting.
The meeting has endorsed a nine-point consensus proposal to complete the peace process and constitution writing. Gyawali also said the UML would continue lobbying with other political parties for a national consensus to end the current deadlock. “We should amend the parliamentary regulations if need be,” he said.
However, the Maoists and the NC have not decided on withdrawing their candidacies just yet. Acting president of the NC, Sushil Koirala, ruled out any possibility of backing out when the Maoists requested him to withdraw Poudel’s candidacy.
With today’s decision by the UML, the nation will not be getting a new PM in the fifth election, slated for 18 August.
Despite objections by some central committee members to staying neutral, the Wednesday meeting of the UML central committee concluded the party should not participate in the election on 18 August unless a national consensus government is in the offing.
With 109 votes, the UML has a decisive role in electing a new PM. The party has stayed neutral ever since its candidate, party chairman Jhalanath Khanal, failed to garner two thirds prior to the first round last month.
At the meeting, influential leader KP Oli argued the party should vote in the coming election to end the prolonged political uncertainty. Twenty central committee members, including Oli, even tabled a note of dissent against the party decision to hold its next meeting on 19 August, one day after the election, to review their decision to stay neutral. The dissenters wanted the party to hold a meeting before the election to decide on voting for one of the candidates.
“Today’s meeting concluded that only a national consensus government can complete the peace process and writing the constitution, so there has been no change in our position regarding the PM election,” Pradeep Gyawali told reporters after the meeting.
The meeting has endorsed a nine-point consensus proposal to complete the peace process and constitution writing. Gyawali also said the UML would continue lobbying with other political parties for a national consensus to end the current deadlock. “We should amend the parliamentary regulations if need be,” he said.
However, the Maoists and the NC have not decided on withdrawing their candidacies just yet. Acting president of the NC, Sushil Koirala, ruled out any possibility of backing out when the Maoists requested him to withdraw Poudel’s candidacy.
With today’s decision by the UML, the nation will not be getting a new PM in the fifth election, slated for 18 August.
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At present, UML has its own PM based on majority in CA. Then why should it join in the fray to vote a new PM on majorty votes. Madhav resigned to pave the way for a national consensus PM and a cabinet of all major parties, which was the demand of the Maoists. It was the Maoists who based on that demand, refused to let the government function and blocked every effort to move forward in constitution writing. They held the country hostage for more than one year.
The Maoists are again holding the country and CA hostage with a demand that it elect Dahal as PM no more no less. Putting everything on hold till they get the power has been the Maoists tautics. They won’t even others in the party try to get a consensus. Dahal is fearful that Bhattarai has a very good chance of being a national consensus PM, which would be a big blow to fearsome.
So, held the country hostage till he gets the PM. So, if you want to get rid of this permanent hostage situation, make it sure and start working on it with a determination that they will be soundly defeated in the next round of election. That is the only alternative they have left to us.