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.