CPN-Maoist had held discussion with UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minster Babauram Bhattarai and CPN-UML leaders separately to get their support for Thapa. Bhattarai and Baidya held discussion at Baidya residence Baniyatar on Tuesday. [break]
"We are discussing the issue with other political parties. Prachandji [Dahal], Baburamji and the UML leaders are positive to the candidacy of Badalji [Thapa]," Mohan Baidya, CPN-Maoist Chairman, told Republica. He also said that his party will hold discussions with the remaining parties including NC soon.
"In the discussions the parties [Maoist and UML] have expressed support verbally but it is yet to be seen in practice," Baidya added. According to Baidya, Thapa is the only suitable candidate from the ´ethnic-identity´ point of view.
"We clearly put forward our arguments about the candidacy of Thapa in the meetings with the parties [Maoist and UML] that they cannot not solve the crisis without accommodate new force [CPN-Maoist]," said Baidya adding his party would try till the last. He also claimed Thapa as preeminent candidate for the prime minister post.
In the meeting with the parties, CPN-Maoist forwarded various reasons why Thapa should be the new PM. The first reason was that only Thapa could save the spirit of national unity. The party argued that President Ram Baran Yadav was from Madhesi community and Thapa from ethnic Magar community and was a ´capable leftist patriotic leaders´.
"Thapa is capable not only to save spirit of national unity but also to address ideological issues," said Maheshwar Dahal, party Central Committee member.
According to him, the next reason was UCPN (Maoist), NC, UML and Madhesi alliance have failed to solve political and constitutional crisis. So, CPN-Maoist automatically should get the chance and was capable to address those unresolved issues.
The party also argued that since it was the third largest party in the dissolved Constituent Assembly with 95 CA members, it should be the natural choice to lead the government as the largest and second largest parties - Maoist and NC - were fighting among themselves for the post.
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