CPN (Unified Socialist) proposes Khanal’s name for President

Kathmandu, Dec 20: CPN (Unified Socialist) is going to propose the name of its senior leader Jhalanath Khanal as new presidential candidate.

Khanal, who was defeated by CPN-UML's Mahesh Basnet from Ilam 1, has been proposed as the candidate for the post of president on behalf of the party.

Jagannath Khatiwada, head of the party's publicity department, said that when the government was being formed from the power coalition, Khanal was proposed in order to claim the presidency. He said that his party will claim the presidency as the distribution of posts will be based on the balance of power.

There was also an intensive discussion between Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Unified Socialist Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal on the balance of power and distribution of posts. During the discussion held at his residence in Koteshwar, Chairman Nepal said that his party would not immediately claim the position of Prime Minister but would not leave the "bottom line" of the President. Nepal emphasized that the leaders should take turn for the post of Prime Minister but the Nepali Congress and the Maoist should decide on who will lead first. “Unified Socialist is determined that the formation of the government should be from the current coalition. The party is also clear about running the government in a circular manner. However, the two parties should decide who will lead first in mutual agreement," said a leader close to him, quoting Nepal's statement.

Only on Monday afternoon, Chairman Nepal said that the issue of forming a left-wing government was just to create confusion. Speaking at a program held at the party central office to congratulate and wish the newly elected MPs, Nepal said that his party can take any decision if the parties in the alliance present their ego. He also said that since no one has got a majority, what kind of government will be formed has become a matter of general interest. "The next government will be formed by the present coalition, not by the left coalition," Chairman Nepal said.

CPN-UML training leading leaders

CPN-UML, which has become the second largest party in the country after the election on November 20, is going to invite leading leaders from all over the country and train them. The party, which is in a state of 'wait and see' in the formation of the government, has called a meeting of the newly elected members of the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly and the defeated candidates in the direct election and will train them in Kathmadu.

Deputy Head of UML Propaganda Department Bishnu Rizal said that UML organized a meeting on Tuesday to train the elected parliamentarians in Nepal Academy Hall in Kamaladi on parliamentary roles. He said that newly elected parliamentarians and candidates will be informed about the role to be played by the party in the federal parliament and provincial assembly. UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and top leaders will address the meeting.