A meeting of the NC office bearers at party´s acting president Sushil Koirala´s residence on Monday morning decided not to leave any stones unturned to help Poudel elected as prime minister during the third round of election slated for August 2. The meeting also concluded that the demands put forth by United Madhesi Democratic Front (UDMF) were positive. [break]
According to NC General Secretary Bimalendra Nidhi, the meeting reviewed the meetings held by the party´s talk teams with various political parties including Madhesi parties and other small parties in the parliament to line up support for Poudel.
The office bearers´ meeting concluded that the party must initiate dialogues with the CPN-UML to garner enough votes in the parliament for an NC-led government. “We have decided to expedite talks with other parties to garner support for the party´s prime ministerial candidate,” he said.
NC is hopeful that Madhesi parties will back an NC-led government as the latter have already conveyed the NC leaders that their demands are not meant to ´obstruct´ NC from leading the government. “We have reached several agreements in the past,” a NC leader quoted Madhesi parties as saying. “We want them to be implemented sincerely.”
NC leaders said UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal is still not positive about backing an NC-led government though a section of UML leaders are positive about it. “UML seems unwilling to sit for talks with the NC,” said a senior leader, asking anonymity.
Support of the UML, which has already decided not to vote in favor of a majority government led by any party, is a must for the NC to have a majority in the parliament. The UML must make a fresh decision from its central committee if it chooses to support a majority government.
“[UML Chairman] Jhala Nath Khanal seems neither willing to talk to NC nor is he ready to call central committee meeting right away,” added the leader.
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