The Nepali Congress said the NC would not accept a Maoist-led government until the Maoist party detaches itself from its arms and army.[break]
Nepal solicited the NC president´s opinion on supporting Bhattarai as a consensus prime minister and allowing him a 45-day period for progress in the peace process, during a meeting with Koirala at the latter´s residence, according to a NC leader close to Koirala.
"Nepal was of the view that both the CPN-UML and Nepali Congress should lend support to Bhattarai and see what work is done within 45 days on the outstanding issues of the peace process," the Congress leader told Republica about the Koirala-Nepal meeting, adding, "Nepal further proposed that the NC and UML should withdraw support from Bhattarai if he fails to advance the peace process within the given timeframe."
In response to the proposal, Koirala told Nepal that the NC would not accept Maoist leadership until the former rebel party agreed to settle the outstanding issues of the peace process. Koirala was of the view that the NC could not trust the Maoists, given the latter´s past record of disrespecting agreements and their recent decision to revive their conflict-era political front United National People´s Council, according to the NC leader.
"Koirala told Nepal that it has been the strategic position of the Nepali Congress since the last two years that a Maoist-led government will be acceptable only when the Maoists segregate themselves from their arms and army," said another NC leader privy to the details of the meeting.
Meanwhile, the Maoists have urged the NC to agree on the proposal floated by Nepal and lend support to them to form a consensus government, according to a senior Maoist leader. While making their plea, the Maoist leaders told NC leaders that they were ready to start the process of implementing the peace process if such an agreement if reached. But they declined to meet the NC´s demand to hand over arms to the government in exchange for NC support for a Maoist-led government, saying such a move would be tantamount to surrender and would not be easy given the complicated internal politics of the party, the leader said.
In a related context, Koirala has rejected a proposal of NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba on accepting a rotational prime ministerial system with Bhattarai being prime minister at the first turn. Deuba proposed to Koirala Monday evening that the party agree on the proposal with him, Deuba, becoming prime minister after Bhattarai under the rotation, according to the NC leader.
Deuba urges Maoists to be prudent
Meanwhile, prime minister-hopeful Deuba on Tuesday urged the Maoist party to be prudent and agree to lead the government in the second turn under a rotational system.
"An agreement on rotational system has been reached but the environment is not conducive for allowing the Maoists to lead the government at the first turn," Deuba told a group of journalists at his residence Tuesday evening.
Deuba also stressed the need for what he called an "honorable" integration and rehabilitation of ex-Maoist combatants and for moving ahead toward management of the combatants by taking the Nepal Army into confidence.
He said he was hopeful of the parties reaching consensus by 5 p.m. on Wednesday. "There is still a possibility. and I hope the Maoists, who have come to this point along the path of peace, will seek a solution to the present impasse," Deuba said.
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