Concluding that efforts to form a consensus government have yielded no results, the leaders decided not to prolong the state of confusion in the country. [break]
"We have reached an understanding to this effect. We will put forth this proposal before the UCPN (Maoist) and Nepali Congress," UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel, who was present at an informal meeting at the prime minister´s official residence at Baluwatar on Friday afternoon, told myrepublica.com.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, party Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, General Secretary Pokharel and leaders KP Oli, Bharat Mohan Adhikari and Bishnu Poudel were present at the meeting. Defense Minister Bidya Bhandari and Minister for Information and Communications Shankar Pokharel also attended the meeting.
General Secretary Pokharel said opting for a majority government has become urgent as the parties have failed to reach any agreement over a national consensus government.
"Obviously, we are still for a consensus government. But we can´t prolong the political stalemate on any such pretext. It is already late and we must relieve the country by finding a way out of the deadlock," he said.
Pokharel stated that seeking an alternative solution has become essential as a national consensus can´t be forged without consent from the main opposition UCPN (Maoist), something that has proved hard to come by.
He claimed that top UML leaders gathered at the meeting, including the prime minister, were unanimous on the latest proposal. Leaders present at the meeting said it was the prime minister who first urged the leaders to find a way out of the deadlock at the earliest.
However, Adhikari said that they would make a final effort in the next one week with a view to forming a national consensus government even if it means deferring parliament´s budget session.
The prime minister at a meeting with coalition partners last week had suggested to leaders of other parties to recommend a prime ministerial candidate from among the coalition members within a week.
thira@myrepublica.com
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