Consensus deadline extended
KATHMANDU:
Upon the request of political parties, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav today extended the deadline for forming a national consensus government by another three days, to August 24.
An all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal at his office in Singha Durbar had decided to appeal to the President for extension.
Leaders of various parties, including Prime Minister Khanal, Congress president Sushil Koirala, Maoist vice-chairmen Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (Democratic) chairman Bijay Kumar Gachhadar and CPN(ML) leader CP Mainali visited Dr Yadav at his office in Shital Niwas after their marathon meetings failed to find a solution to the crisis.
The President had called for a consensus government last week following the resignation of Khanal on August 14.
Despite deadline extension, political parties are less hopeful for a consensus government. Although Unified CPN-Maoist and United Democratic Madhesi Front were against extending the term, they later agreed to it on the requests by Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, according to Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (Republic) Chairman Jay Prakash Gupta.
As UCPN-M and NC have stuck to their stand of leading the government under rotation system, chances for consensus seem slim. Both parties are yet to agree on who will lead the government first.
UCPN-M claims its leadership is imperative for peace process while Congress says UCPN-M cannot be given leadership until the issue of combatants and weapons is settled.
Before the all-party meeting, senior leaders of NC and UML had held meetings followed by separate meeting of top brass of three parties — Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Congress President Koirala and UML Chairman Khanal.
UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel said his party would not let UCPN-M lead the government until they commit to a concrete plan on combatants and weapons.
Prime ministerial candidate from NC, Sher Bahadur Deuba, said attempts were on to form a consensus government.
Maoist leaders told the all-party meeting that possibility of consensus was slim as parties, according to MJF (R) Chairman Gupta. NC had proposed to seek five-day extension, but other parties agreed for a three days, he said.
Source: THT
Upon the request of political parties, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav today extended the deadline for forming a national consensus government by another three days, to August 24.
An all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal at his office in Singha Durbar had decided to appeal to the President for extension.
Leaders of various parties, including Prime Minister Khanal, Congress president Sushil Koirala, Maoist vice-chairmen Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (Democratic) chairman Bijay Kumar Gachhadar and CPN(ML) leader CP Mainali visited Dr Yadav at his office in Shital Niwas after their marathon meetings failed to find a solution to the crisis.
The President had called for a consensus government last week following the resignation of Khanal on August 14.
Despite deadline extension, political parties are less hopeful for a consensus government. Although Unified CPN-Maoist and United Democratic Madhesi Front were against extending the term, they later agreed to it on the requests by Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, according to Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (Republic) Chairman Jay Prakash Gupta.
As UCPN-M and NC have stuck to their stand of leading the government under rotation system, chances for consensus seem slim. Both parties are yet to agree on who will lead the government first.
UCPN-M claims its leadership is imperative for peace process while Congress says UCPN-M cannot be given leadership until the issue of combatants and weapons is settled.
Before the all-party meeting, senior leaders of NC and UML had held meetings followed by separate meeting of top brass of three parties — Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Congress President Koirala and UML Chairman Khanal.
UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel said his party would not let UCPN-M lead the government until they commit to a concrete plan on combatants and weapons.
Prime ministerial candidate from NC, Sher Bahadur Deuba, said attempts were on to form a consensus government.
Maoist leaders told the all-party meeting that possibility of consensus was slim as parties, according to MJF (R) Chairman Gupta. NC had proposed to seek five-day extension, but other parties agreed for a three days, he said.
Source: THT
