The parties decided to prepare a common paper on ending the present deadlock incorporating the proposals put forth separately by the ruling parties. The meeting formed a taskforce and entrusted it with the responsibility of preparing a joint proposal by finding common views from the proposals separately floated by the parties. [break]
“The Nepali Congress (NC) has put forth its proposal and the UML has its own concept paper. Similarly, the Madhes-based and other smaller parties have their own suggestions.
The taskforce will prepare a comprehensive paper synthesizing all the common points from the parties" documents,” Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani, who is one of the members of the taskforce, told myrepublica.com.
According to Chandradev Joshi of CPN (Samyukta), who was present at the meeting, Krishna Sitaula from NC, Bharat Mohan Adhikari or Pradip Gyawali (or both) from UML, Lohani from Rastriya Janashakti Party and Sunil Manandhar from CPN (Samyukta) were picked as members of the taskforce.
Leaders claimed, they decided to come up with a common stance on ending the protracted stalemate before holding discussions on prime ministerial candidate.
“Forging a common stance on ending the political deadlock will definitely help come up with a common candidate as well,” Lohani said. A leader said they will enter the topic of prime ministerial candidate only in the second phase.
The meeting can be taken as a significant development toward keeping the present democratic alliance intact as Oli, who has been openly lobbying in favor of strengthening UML-NC headed coalition, was present at the meeting.
But UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, who wants to form a government with main opposition UCPN (Maoist) on board, and leaders close to him, did not attend the meeting.
Nepal said he convened the meeting not in the capacity of prime minister but as a Senior UML leader and a member of the party"s talks team.
Leaders from Rastriya Prajatantra Party, RJP, CPN (ML), Rastriya Janamorcha, Nepal Family Party and Chure Bhawar Party, among others, were present at the meeting.
According to Joshi, Nepal plans to talk to leaders from Madhes-based parties on Sunday. The UML leaders´ attempt has come at a time when Maoist candidate Pushpa Kamal Dahal mustered 252 votes in the latest round of prime ministerial voting while the Madhesi parties said that they would vote in the next round.
Only Dahal can secure majority in the House with support from Madhes-based and smaller parties.
The NC must be able to garner support from UML lawmakers along with other parties to bag the prime ministerial post.
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