However, senior leaders of Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have welcomed the president´s remark arguing that the president needs to step in to resolve the deadlock. [break]
Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala speaking at a press conference in Nepalgunj Sunday said, "The president is working in accordance with the law. The president belongs to one and all and he should be allowed to work freely." Koirala also said he had information some parties were putting pressure and even threatening the president.
Prime Minister Bhattarai addressing an inaugural ceremony of Krishna Agriculture Cooperative Fair held in Rajbiraj, Saptari on Sunday meanwhile said finding solution to the political deadlock is a political issue to be resolved by the parties so the president need not worry about it. “The parties will decide when and how the elections will be held. There is no need for the president to overstep his jurisdiction.”
Prime Minister Bhattarai also said negotiations among the parties were moving in a positive direction and he added that parties would soon reach a consensus on resolving the deadlock.
Addressing a function organized by Nepal Chamber of Commerce to mark its 60th anniversary in the capital on Saturday, President Yadav had warned that he would not confine himself as a mere spectator should the parties fail to reach the deal with urgency. He also asked political parties to reach a ´package deal´ on all issues including formation of a new all-party government, declaration of election date, modality of election and the appointment of heads in various constitutional bodies to resolve the long-standing political impasse.
CPN-UML Senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal talking to journalists at a book fair at Bhrikuti Mandap on Sunday said the president should step in if the parties failed to give outlet for the country´s problems.
“If the parties failed to resolve the deadlock, the president should take appropriate steps in consensus with political parties,” he said, adding that there should be fresh CA election after forming a new national consensus government to resolve the deadlock.
NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula speaking at Reporters Club in Kathmandu on Sunday argued that President Yadav is the patron of the Interim Constitution so his remark should not be taken as otherwise. The president should intervene if the parties are unable to resolve the deadlock soon.
Though the opposition parties openly welcomed the president´s remarks, leaders of the parties that are part of the ruling coalition also echoed the prime minister, terming the remark of the president as ´unwarranted´.
Senior Vice-chairman of the ruling Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D) Rameshwar Raya Yadav argued that such remark from the president had posed a big challenge to the parties. "The president´s remark poses a big challenge for the political parties,” he said.
Vice Chairman of ruling Sadbhawana Party Laxman Lal Karna said though it is natural for the president to express his concern over the political deadlock the Interim Constitution does not permit him to take any action.
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