The latest deadline given by the president expires on Wednesday. [break]
A meeting of the UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led FDRA held at the prime minister´s official residence in Baluwatar took a decision to this effect, according to FDRA Spokesperson Prem Bahadur Singh. “We have called upon all the political parties to forge consensus within the deadline to ensure fresh polls by mid-May,” Singh told Republica.
Singh said the constituent parties of FDRA have agreed to move ahead with cabinet expansion if there is no consensus within the deadline. “Meanwhile, the alliance will continue efforts to forge consensus with the opposition parties,” he said.
The decision of the ruling FDRA comes in the wake of parties failing to agree on the prime ministerial candidate for the new consensus government. The president has already extended the deadline twice.
FDRA leaders said the cabinet expansion had been put on hold to not derail efforts aimed at forging consensus. The Saturday´s meeting concluded that the ruling parities should not 0delay cabinet expansion if there was no consensus even by Wednesday as the day-to-day functioning of the government has badly been affected with the prime minister handling eight ministries.
FDRA meeting also decided to an environment conducive to holding fresh CA polls by mid-May. “The meeting has concluded that there must be a package deal among parties on all issues, including the formation of a consensus government and fresh polls,” Singh further said.
Chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (Democratic) Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Chairman Mahanta Thakur and Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato were not present at the meeting.
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