"As the largest party, the UCPN (Maoist) should be allowed to head the government. We will request NC and UML to form the new government under the leadership of Maoists," UCPN (Maoist) Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha said after a meeting of the party´s office bearers at Singha Durbar.[break]
The meeting also decided to urge the Nepali Congress (NC) to withdraw the prime ministerial candidacy of Ram Chandra Paudel.
"If they turn down our request, we will vote against him," said Vice-chairman Shrestha. According to Shrestha, his party has decided to hold talks with other parties on the issue of government formation.
The meeting also replaced party secretary Post Bahadur Bogati with the party´s standing committee member Barshaman Pun as a member of the taskforce formed to make recommendations for reshuffling responsibilities of the party leaders.
Bogati himself had recommended Pun´s name for his replacement at the meeting.
“He has been fulfilling such responsibilities in the past. I had shouldered the responsibility as he was abroad,” Bogati told Republica, “I proposed his name as I´m currently busy in parliamentary business.” Both Bogati and Pun are believed to be close to party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
The UCPN (Maoist) had formed the taskforce last month with the mandate to recommend reshuffling of responsibilities of the party leaders. Party General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa, who leads a moderate faction in the party, heads the body. Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, close to Vice chairman Dr Baburam Battarai, Netra Bikram Chand a confidant of senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya and Girirajmani Pokharel from the Dahal faction other members of the taskforce.
The Maoists have expressed their worry and have accused the ruling parties of not being serious about the consequences that the departure of UNMIN without first forming an alternative mechanism to take over its responsibilities may entail.
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