At a meeting of 18 parties held at Singha Durbar, the Madhesi parties extended support to a UML-led coalition but said they would decided on Wednesday whether or not they want to join the coalition.
A coalition of Madhesi parties decided to back the UML-led coalition after the UML and NC gave a written commitment over Madhes issues. The letter, undersigned by UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and Nepali Congress Acting President Sushil Koirala, stated that the parties are ready to address the eight-point agreement reached between the government and the Madhesi parties in the past. However, the Madhesi parties expressed reservations over one clause in the letter. The clause states that issues related to the constitution will be decided by the Constituent Assembly. The Madhesi parties demanded that the parties be ready to amend the interim constitution to address all the issues in the eight-point agreement and the clause on issues relating to the constitution being decided by the Constituent Assembly be removed.
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The NC and UML insisted until the last minute on the Madhesi parties joining the government. As the parties failed to formally reach an agreement, MPRF Co-Chair Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta, TMDP Chairman Mahantha Thakur and SP Chairman Rajendra Mahato jointly prepared a final draft of the Madhesi parties´ position for negotiations with the NC and UML.
Emerging from the meeting at Singha Durbar late in the evening Gupta said the Madhesi parties can decide in a second whether or not to join the government. "But the NC and UML must be ready to address our eight-point agreement if they want us in their coalition," said Gupta.
He said the Madhesi parties will sit for a final dialogue with the NC and the UML on Wednesday. "We will put our issues before the NC and UML tomorrow and we will take a decision accordingly," he said.
MPRF Chairman Upendra Yadav said his party will support a broader democratic alliance. He, however didn´t elaborate. "Be assured, we will support a broader democratic alliance," said Yadav. He said the Madhesi parties have some important issues to settle before making a formal decision.
NC Vice Chairman Ram Chandra Poudel said all the parties which attended the all-party meeting expressed their support for a UML-led coalition government. Claiming that the Madhesi parties have expressed their support for the UML-led coalition, Poudel said, "They (Madhesi parties) have some internal problems. They will settle them by tomorrow."
He also said the parties, during the meeting, decided to protest the ´coordinated´ Maoist campaign against President Dr Ram Baran Yadav.
UML leader KP Oli said the road to the formation of a coalition government under UML leadership is clear. "The next coalition government will be formed in the next two days," he said.
Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Pashupati Sumsher Rana said his party decided to support the UML-led coalition government as the country can´t remain without a functioning government.
He said the Maoists´ call for restoring people´s supremacy has no constitutional basis. "The prime minister´s move to sack the army chief was unconstitutional as he failed to follow due process," Rana said, adding, "Therefore, we support the President´s move in asking the army chief to continue in his post."
Parties in favor of UML-led coalition:
Nepali Congress - 114
UML - 109
MPRF - 53
TMDP - 21
Sadbhawana Party - 9
CPN (Marxist-Leninist) - 9
RPP - 8
CPN (United) - 5
RPP (Nepal) - 4
RJP - 3
Janamukti Party - 2
Sanghiya Loktantrik Manch - 2
Dalit Janajati - 1
Pariwar Dal - 1
Chure Bhawar - 1
Nepa Rastriya Party - 1
Loktantrik Samajwadi - 1
Janamorcha Nepal - 4
Total - 348
ghanashyam@myrepublica.com
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