Stating that the opposition parties´ accusations were intended to tarnish his image, Bhattarai said, "The allegation that I have been setting one condition after another is entirely baseless because I have agreed to step down after forging a package deal with regard to ending the political stalemate. I still firmly stand by the same position," Bhattarai told media persons at the prime minister´s official residence in Baluwatar on Thursday.[break]
He claimed there is no point in prolonging his stay government if there is no achievement. "My only objective is to create a conducive environment for promulgation of the new constitution," he explained.
The prime minister also rubbished reports about serious difference between UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and him on handing over the government leadership to Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala, whom the opposition alliance has proposed as a common candidate for the prime ministerial post.
Some key leaders closely involved in interparty negotiations claimed that Dahal is lately positive about handing over the government leadership to NC while Bhattarai is for transforming the present government into a national consensus government by bringing NC and CPN-UML on board.
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