According to the Reporters Club, Khanal made the statement while speaking at The RD Show, a talk show to be aired Saturday night on the Himalayan Television.[break]
Khanal also stated during the interview that the UML will boycott all the programs called by Prime Minister Bhattarai. "UML won’t participate in any programs called by Bhattarai, consensus among political parties can be forged only after Bhattarai resigns," the club quoted Khanal.
Khanal also added that the main oppositions Nepali Congress (NC) and UML will not participate in the Constituent Assembly´s (CA) fresh election to take place on November 22 as declared by the prime minister. During the interview, Khanal challenged the government to successfully hold the CA elections which is boycotted by UML and NC.
During the recorded interview, arguing that the oppositions can topple the Bhattarai-led government, the club quoted Khanal as saying, "We were successful in ending the 240 year long monarchial system in Nepal, similarly, we can throw Bhattarai out of the Nepali politics in no time through stiff protests." He also informed of ongoing internal preparations to launch the protest programs.
Khanal also opined that the dissolved CA cannot be revived at any cost and the best alternative to end the current political impasse is to hold the elections.
UML chair stated that his party is ready to support NC led consensus government but in NC´s failure to announce the next candidacy, UML would be ready to lead the new government. Khanal further added that the UML has abundant number of suitable candidates who can take up the prime ministerial responsibility. "If required I will not hesitate to put forth my name," he said.
According to the club, Khanal stating the party´s stance on federalism said that the UML will not accept the single identity based federalism at any cost. Criticizing the Madhes based parties leaders he said; the Madhesi parties which are divided in all aspect are not in a position to represent the Madhes. By clamoring for ´One Madhes, One State´ the Madhesi leaders are just trying to divide the country into pieces, he stressed.
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