The Maoists stating that Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal had failed to translate the so-called seven-point agreement said they would opt out of the government until the deal is implemented. [break]
“As the UML failed to implement the seven-point deal, we have for the time being decided to stay out of the government,” said Maoist Spokesperson Dinanath Sharma after the standing committee meeting.
He, however, added that the party would lend full support to the government.
The Maoist senior leaders sat for the meeting at 3 pm at the party head office in Paris Danda and prolonged the meeting till 6 pm waiting for the UML standing committee´s decision.
The Maoists decided to stay out of the government after the UML decided not to let the Maoists take charge of the home ministry.
“We saw that the UML is not ready to implement the seven-point deal as we had expected. Everything depends on what the UML decides to do next,” said Maoist Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha.
He said the party would chalk out its strategy after assessing the situation in the next few days.
“We would evaluate the situation for a month and chart out our strategy accordingly,” said a Maoist standing committee member.
According to him, the party decided to opt out of government for the time being as the prime minister has been entrapped by “conspirators” in his own party. “We took the decision to thwart their conspiracy,” he said.
The Maoist standing committee meeting was expected to distribute the ministerial portfolios among the party leaders. But the meeting ended without discussing the topic after the Maoist leaders learnt about the UML´s decision.
According to sources, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is now finding it difficult to justify his decision to vote for Khanal for the post of prime minister.
Party Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai was against the decision to vote for Khanal and he had even registered a note of dissent in the party against the decision.
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