Maoists, however, boycotted the reception that was organized to exchange greetings on the occasion of New Year-2067 BS and the Democracy Day. [break]
According to Maoist sources, the party decided to boycott the reception as President Dr Yadav invited the leaders “in the fashion of an executive president”, and not as a ceremonial head of the state.
“The invitation to the reception has given a clear message that he is trying to be active again amidst the deepening political crisis,” said a Maoist source preferring anonymity.
Sources said Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal was ready to go to the reception, but party Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai stopped Dahal from attending the reception. Maoist leaders Dahal, Dr Bhattarai and another vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha had been invited to the reception.
“I welcome leaders from all the political parties represented in the CA. I urge all the parties to go ahead by joining hand with each other to write the new constitution and conclude the peace process on time,” President Yadav´s aid Lalit Basnet quoted him as saying.
Similar dinner was organized during the same occasion last year as well.
Sushil Koirala, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Ram Chandra Poudel from the Nepali Congress, Jhala Nath Khanal and KP Sharma Oli from the CPN-UML, Upendra Yadav and JP Gupta from the Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF), Bijay Gachchhadar and Sarat Singh Bhandari from the MPRF-Demcoratic and Mahanta Thakur from the Tarai Madhes Democratic Party, among other leaders, attended the reception.
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