The prime minister issued the ultimatum during a meeting with the Nepali Congress (NC) and fringe political parties in the ruling coalition on Friday. [break]
According to highly placed sources, the prime minister made up his mind to resign after the major parties struck their three-point deal of May 14 on Constituent Assembly (CA) term extension, which states that the prime minister is ready to step down to pave the way for the formation of a national consensus government.
He was also worried about the growing public perception that he was becoming an obstacle to national consensus by clinging on to the post of prime minister.
“You signed the three-point deal mentioning that I would step down. So you must find an alternative,” a source quoted Nepal as telling the NC and the smaller parties during the meeting.
The prime minister further stated that the government would be in difficulties again as the time for presenting the government policy and programs and the annual budget is nearing by the day and the Maoists are threatening to disrupt parliamentary proceedings. “So things cannot move ahead as they are,” Nepal said.
The coalition partners, however, urged Nepal not to quit in the midst of such a fluid political situation and before the Maoists agree to the agenda of the peace process and constitution drafting. They said that he was elected prime minister by the 22 political parties, not by the Maoists, and that there was no point in resigning just to please the Maoists.
“It would be like a commander in the field escaping from the scene in the heat of battle,” Rastriya Janashakti Party Chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa said.
The party leaders said the parties have not been able to reach consensus due to the tough posture taken the Maoist party. “So why should you resign? You cannot simply quit at such a critical time,” the party leaders told the prime minister.
Just a few days back, the prime minister had told something similar to the three Madhes-based parties in the coalition - Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP), Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) and Sadbhavana Party (SP). The Madhes-based parties also had urged the prime minister not to resign before a national consensus was reached.
According to sources, the prime minister had told the parties that he would resign by June 15, but he heeded the request of the parties and agreed to stay on in office for one week more.
He is unhappy also because of frequent attempts by his own party leaders to backstab against him and their criticisms in public. He was unhappy when UML leader Pradip Gyawali told media that the incumbent government has already turned into a caretaker one after the three-point deal was struck.
´Maoists open about govt leadership´
Maoist leader Top Bahadur Rayamajhi said on Friday that the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN-M) is open to another party leader than Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal heading a national consensus government if the other parties agree.
Rayamajhi, who is a party standing committee member, said the party chairman has already stated publicly that the Maoists are open to another party leader becoming prime minister if there is national consensus.
He said Dr Baburam Bhattrai could be the next prime minister from the party. "Anyone including party General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa or Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha can be prime minister if other parties agree," he said.
Rayamajhi, however, said his party would not accept leaders from other parties heading a national consensus government.
Intra-party rift has widened between Dahal and Bhattarai over who should head the next government.
Rayamajhi´s statement comes after the decision by top party office-bearers that there can be no alternative to Dahal heading a national consensus government.
But leaders close to Bhattarai have stated that the decision taken by the top office-bearers violates the decision of the last central committee to keep all options open for a national consensus government, and is invalid.
Speaking at the same function, Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) Chairman Upendra Yadav said there cannot be consensus on a national consensus government if the Maoists do not present an alternative to Dahal.
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