Maoists to make 'new decision'
Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has told parliamentary reporters that his party will continue negotiating for a consensus government until the sixth round of the prime ministerial election. If things do not progress in this direction, then the ongoing central committee meeting will make a decision as to how to proceed. Speculation is rife that the UCPN (Maoist) might opt out of the prime ministerial election after the sixth round scheduled for 5 September.
Dahal said the people are fed up with the protracted deadlock. He also said his party would be ready to make whatever sacrifice is necessary to end the never-ending process of electing a prime minister. "As the biggest party in parliament, the Maoists should take a new decision to bail the country out," he said. Current parliamentary provisions mean voting continues until a PM is elected through a majority or until one of the candidates back out.
If by saying ' a new decision', Dahal means his party will opt out of the prime ministerial race, the NC, which has declared it will never quit the contest, has the chance to lead a new government. This will not be a consensus government but a majority government without the Maoists.
The NC needs the support of both the UML and the Madhesi alliance for a simple majority. The alliance has already said it would 'prefer the democratic front to the Maoists'. However, the UML has been advocating a consensus government, an idea that is next to impossible currently. The NC and the Maoists are extremely unlikely to support each other in government.
On Sunday, NC Acting President Sushil Koirala made it clear that the NC would rather stay in opposition than accept a government under Maoist leadership. "The UML can vote for the Maoist candidate if they want, so we can stay in opposition," he told reporters at this residence.
The UML and the Madhesi alliance are still adamant on staying neutral, however, just as in previous rounds, so it is certain the sixth round will fail to yield a result. CA chair Subas Nembang, in an informal meeting, has already revealed the tentative date for the seventh round, 26 September. Analysts predict the UML, which has been saying it will stay neutral until a consensus candidate is agreed upon, will support the NC if the Maoists back out.
Two months have passed since caretaker PM Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned as PM, paving the way for the formation of a new government.
Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has told parliamentary reporters that his party will continue negotiating for a consensus government until the sixth round of the prime ministerial election. If things do not progress in this direction, then the ongoing central committee meeting will make a decision as to how to proceed. Speculation is rife that the UCPN (Maoist) might opt out of the prime ministerial election after the sixth round scheduled for 5 September.
Dahal said the people are fed up with the protracted deadlock. He also said his party would be ready to make whatever sacrifice is necessary to end the never-ending process of electing a prime minister. "As the biggest party in parliament, the Maoists should take a new decision to bail the country out," he said. Current parliamentary provisions mean voting continues until a PM is elected through a majority or until one of the candidates back out.
If by saying ' a new decision', Dahal means his party will opt out of the prime ministerial race, the NC, which has declared it will never quit the contest, has the chance to lead a new government. This will not be a consensus government but a majority government without the Maoists.
The NC needs the support of both the UML and the Madhesi alliance for a simple majority. The alliance has already said it would 'prefer the democratic front to the Maoists'. However, the UML has been advocating a consensus government, an idea that is next to impossible currently. The NC and the Maoists are extremely unlikely to support each other in government.
On Sunday, NC Acting President Sushil Koirala made it clear that the NC would rather stay in opposition than accept a government under Maoist leadership. "The UML can vote for the Maoist candidate if they want, so we can stay in opposition," he told reporters at this residence.
The UML and the Madhesi alliance are still adamant on staying neutral, however, just as in previous rounds, so it is certain the sixth round will fail to yield a result. CA chair Subas Nembang, in an informal meeting, has already revealed the tentative date for the seventh round, 26 September. Analysts predict the UML, which has been saying it will stay neutral until a consensus candidate is agreed upon, will support the NC if the Maoists back out.
Two months have passed since caretaker PM Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned as PM, paving the way for the formation of a new government.
