KATHMANDU Dec 20: A meeting of the Federal Democratic Republican Alliance (FDRA), an alliance of the ruling parties, on Thursday, decided to constitute a national consensus government under the leadership of current prime minister itself, and in case that was not possible, to give an alternative from within the Alliance.
The meeting was held at the Prime Minister´s residence at Baluwatar this morning.[break]
Speaking after the meeting, spokesman of the UCPN (Maoist), Agni Prasad Sapkota said that efforts would be made to forge consensus on constituting the national consensus government under current prime minister´s leadership. He added that if that was not possible, then the previous decision of the ruling alliance to find the alternative from within the alliance itself would be intact.
"Even if that was not possible, the meeting discussed taking initiatives for forging consensus among the parties," Sapkota said.
UCPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, coordinator of the United Democratic Madhesi Front and Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar and President of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Mahantha Thakur apprised the meeting of the efforts being made by the parties for consensus.
The Alliance has decided to hold its next meeting on Saturday morning as the meeting of the UDMF has not concluded and the UCPN (Maoist) has also planned to hold its meeting tomorrow. The alliance will hold its meeting after the meetings of the UDMF and the UCPN (Maoist) come up with their respective conclusions.
UDRA spokesman Prem Bahadur Singh also said that the ruling alliance stands by its previous decision to seek agreement by giving this government the shape of national consensus government and if that was not possible to put forward alternative leadership from within the alliance.
"The talks process should move forward on that basis. To form the national consensus government under the leadership of the current government itself would be the most appropriate step and less risky way. This is the legitimate government and it is not mentioned in the constitution that the government to replace the current government would be legitimate," Singh said.
UCPN (Maoist) spokesman said that election should be held in coming May under any circumstances and that there was no alternative to consensus for that.