Talking to journalists at his residence, NC Acting President Sushil Koirala argued that the country should not be pushed toward a constitutional vacuum by withdrawing the legitimate process to elect new the prime minister.[break]
He said that NC would not withdraw its candidacy unless there is an agreement on the framework of the government to be formed and the name of the new prime minister.
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and NC Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel are vying for the post of prime minister in the fifth round of voting to be held on August 18.
During a meeting with the NC on Monday, the Maoists had proposed withdrawing candidacies of both the parties and starting fresh negotiations to form a national consensus government.
Likewise, UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal has also been urging both NC and the Maoists to withdraw their candidacies for the formation of national consensus government. The UML has remained neutral in the previous four rounds of voting to elect a new prime minister.
Koirala also asked the Maoists to leave their haughtiness that the formation of new government under their leadership would only be able to settle problems facing the country. He ruled out the possibility of forming new government under the Maoist leadership unless they first manage their combatants, return properties seized during the conflict and disband paramilitary structure of the Young Communist League.
Sasmit Pokharel files candidacy from Kathmandu-5