UCPN-M
The three rounds of voting only resulted in fiasco, but the Maoists remain adamant in continuing the current process of holding votes in parliament until a prime minister is elected. [break]
At a meeting held Tuesday afternoon, the CPN-UML requested the Maoists to annual the current provision, and begin the process anew for a consensus government.
But the Maoists declined the request outright and said a consensus government led by Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal can be formed through the current process if the UML and Nepali Congress sincerely want a consensus government.
“We will even withdraw our candidacy on condition that the consensus government is formed under our leadership,” said Maoist Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha, who participated in the meeting. He argued that it is now the turn of the UML to support the Maoists in return for the Maoists´ earlier decision to back Khanal for prime minister.
The floor-crossing by 11 members of the Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) in favor of Dahal during Monday´s voting has given a flicker of hope to the Maoists that they could garner a majority in the fourth round voting slated for August 6.
In the third round vote, they garnered 256 votes, falling 41 votes short of a majority in the current 599-member House. "The party will exert itself to get more votes from Madhes-based and fringe parties for commanding a majority", Maoist politburo member Shakti Basnet said.
Despite objections from the Baburam Bhattarai-led faction, the Maoist party establishment remains determined to press ahead under the current procedure. Dahal and NC leader Ram Chandra Poudel are currently in the fray for the much coveted post.
Nepali Congress
Though three rounds of voting have dented the NC´s confidence about heading a new government, the party has decided to make a last attempt in the fourth round.
The party will intensify talks with the political parties, mainly the UML, for their support to elect Poudel. The NC cannot form a government without the support of the UML even if it gets all the votes of the major Madhes-based parties.
“The meeting of top office bearers Tuesday decided to step up talks with other parties for their support in the fourth round of voting,” said NC spokesperson Arjun Narsingh KC.
According to him, the NC will keep “all options” open if the party falls short of a majority in the fourth round also. But he did not categorically say what “options” he meant. “The Central Committee meeting will take stock of the situation and identify the options,” KC said. But chances of the UML lending its support to the NC have become slimmer.
CPN-UML
The UML has urged both Dahal and Poudel to withdraw their candidacies and begin a new process for forging a national consensus.
The UML, which remains sharply divided about the party´s move in the current situation, stated that parliament´s failure to elect a new prime minister even after three rounds of voting has deepened the political crisis, and requested all the parties to be serious about possible dire consequences.
"The repetition of elections without any result has given people a wrong message and that has created negative attitudes toward the entire democratic system, the political leadership and the political parties," UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Khanal, who is out of the prime ministerial race, argued that the intention behind the UML decision to stay neutral in the voting was not to hold the country hostage but make a serious attempt at a consensus government. Leaders said the UML would stay neutral in the fourth round voting also.
Madhes-based parties
The third round vote on Monday broke the unity of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), an alliance of four Madhes-based parties, after 11 of its lawmakers crossed the floor to vote for Dahal.
But the UDMF leadership has reiterated their stance that they would press the NC and Maoists to withdraw their candidacies and forge a new agreement for a national consensus government.
“We will request the NC and the Maoists to withdraw their candidacies and take initiatives for a consensus government,” said Jitendra Sonar, joint general-secretary of the Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP), a member of the alliance.
Sonar argued that the floor-crossing by UDMF lawmakers on Monday has widened the distance between the Maoists and the UDMF and the latter is unlikely to vote for the Maoists. But voting in favor of the NC will not have any meaning either as it will not lead to a NC majority in parliament. He said the party will stay neutral in the fourth round of voting.
post@myrepublica.com
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