A meeting of NC office bearers and central working committee members held at the party´s headquarters in Sanepa decided to form the teams for electing the party´s candidate as new prime minister in the third round of election slated for August 2. [break]
According to CWC member Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, the meeting has given responsibility to Acting President Sushil Koirala, Poudel, senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and CWC member Chiranjivi Wagle to hold talks with the CPN-UML.
The support of UML, which has already decided not to vote in favor of majority government, is a must for forming an NC-led majority government.
The NC has given responsibility to Vice President Prakash Man Singh, Dr Ram Sharan Mahat and Deep Kumar Upadhyaya to hold talks with the UCPN (Maoist). Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is also in the fray for the new prime minister. This team will hold talks with small leftist parties seeking their support.
Likewise, NC formed another talks team to hold dialogue with Madhes-based parties to garner their support. The talks team comprises General Secretary Bimalendra Nidhi, Joint General Secretary Arjun Narsingh KC and CWC members Dr Shekhar Koirala and Khum Bahadur Khadka.
NC is scheduled to hold talks with four Madhesi parties -- Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF), MPRF (Democratic), Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party and Sadbhawana Party -- Sunday morning to secure their support.
The UCPN (Maoist) is also scheduled to hold talks with Madhesi parties in the same afternoon.
Earlier in the morning, the NC CWC meeting discussed in detail the concept paper floated on Friday by Madhesi parties. “Though most of the issues raised by the Madhes-based parties are positive some of them require serious discussions,” said NC spokesperson Arjun Narsingh KC.
The Madhesi parties have put forth various demands on three broad agendas -- peace process, constitution-drafting and Madhes issues -- to secure their support for new government.
Among other things, the demands include autonomous Madhes state in the entire Tarai with right to self-determination, bulk recruitment of Madhesis in the national army and withdrawal of the decision to form State Restructuring Commission.
Related story
Food crisis looms large as drought hits Madhesh districts
