Maoist and CPN-UML leaders, at the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of parliament on Tuesday, insisted that voting be conducted every day except holidays but the Nepali Congress (NC) was for holding vote only after reaching a package deal on government formation, peace process and the constitution-writing. [break]The speaker finally set the date as leaders from major parties disputed over the issue.
NC Chief Whip Laxman Ghimire said though the NC was not in favor of holding the vote at short intervals, the new date was fixed under pressure from Maoist and UML leaders. At the BAC meeting, Maoist Chief Whip Post Bahadur Bogati demanded that voting be conducted every day except holidays.
According to BAC members, UML Chief Whip Bhim Acharya also seconded Bogati´s proposal. Ghimire, at the meeting, demanded that the next voting be held in the second week of November.
"But Maoist and UML leaders pressed the speaker to hold voting at short intervals with an intention to pressure NC to withdraw Ram Chandra Paudel´s candidacy, which is totally a misconception. NC is never going to bow down to such undue pressure without reaching any deal," Ghimire told Republica.
After Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal´s withdrawal from the race, Paudel is the sole candidate in the contest.
"We have made it clear that NC is not going to withdraw the candidacy without first reaching a package deal on the peace process, constitution-writing and power-sharing," he said, adding, "Once the parties reach a deal, Paudel may get elected as prime minister as per the deal or any other leader will bag the post."
Pulling their candidates out of the race, both the UCPN (Maoist) and CPN-UML have decided not to participate in the ongoing voting. They have been pressing the NC and the speaker to stop the ongoing process and start afresh.
In the thirteenth round of voting held on Tuesday, 98 voted for Paudel, 2 against him and 44 remained neutral. In the 601-seat parliament, 599 are active members. The largest Maoist and third-largest UML parties have decided not to participate in the election terming it meaningless.
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