With the four Madhesi parties which command 82 seats between them staying out of the race and Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Rastriya Janashakti Party (with 11 members between them) deciding to vote for Nepali Congress’ Ram Chandra Poudel, Khanal’s candidacy is over unless the parties, that have decided to boycott the election or vote against him, change their stance. [break]
Khanal, meanwhile, has gone to meet the Madhesi leaders to seek their support.
As per the UML decision on Tuesday, Khanal has to get written pledge of support from the 401 members. With 114 members of NC and 10 others from seven small parties, Khanal is left with 382 members, provided all other parties support him.
To queer the pitch for the UML chief, CPN (ML) said it would take back its support to Khanal if he could not muster 401 votes.
He has bagged the support pledge from the largest party in the parliament – UCPN (Maoist) with 237 members and CPN (Unified) with two members. The UML members number 109.
The prime minister’s election procedure was to begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday but the deadline has been missed since the parties are still holding discussions.
Earlier, seven small parties including Sadbhawana Party (Anandidevi), Chure Bhawar, Swatantra Pariwar Dal, Dalit Janajati Party and Sanghiya Loktantrik Manch, among others, decided not to take part in the prime minister’s election.
Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) has decided to support NC’s Poudel in the prime minister’s election on Wednesday, RJP co-chairman Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani said. Though Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) had earlier decided to support Poudel, it has now decided to boycott the election procedure on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress (NC) chip whip Laxman Ghimire made it clear that his party would not pull back its candidacy. He asked CPN UML to honor the existing alliance with NC.
UML leader KP Sharma Oli said that they were busy in parleys to seek majority in the parliament. "We would lead the government if we are able to garner 401 votes," Sharma told reporters in front of Constituent Assembly building.
Earlier, a meeting of parliamentary Business Advisory Committee (BAC) decided to hold a run-off election on Friday at 1 p.m. if Wednesday’s election is inconclusive, BAC member Yam Lal Kandel said, our correspondent Thira L Bhusal reported.
Unified CPN (Maoist) has decided to support Khanal in the prime ministerial election, if the latter garners a two-thirds majority in the parliament, our correspondent Post B Basnet reported.
UML leader Yogesh Bhattarai received a letter assuring Maoists’ support to UML. Speaking with reporters, Bhattarai said that UML would be able to receive two-thirds majority in the parliament.
Madhesi front sets terms for support
The United Madhesi Democratic Front has decided to support the prime ministerial candidate who would address their conditions in a credible way.
A meeting of the front, an alliance of four Madhesi parties, also decided not to vote for and against of any candidate until they are assured that their conditions would be met.
First, the front has sought a credible plan from the parties for constitution drafting. The second condition relates to management of the Maoist combatants. Third is about mainstreaming the armed groups operating in the Tarai. Autonomous Madhes is the fourth condition of the front.
As none of the three candidates competing in the election were able to give adequate assurances, the front with a combined strength of 82 members remained neutral in the prime ministerial election on Wednesday.
CPN-UML prime ministerial candidate Jhala Nath Khanal tried his best to court Madhesi parties till the last minute but failed as he could not assure the United Democratic Madhesi Front that their conditions would be met.
At around 3 o´clock, Finance Minister Surendra Pandey reached the office of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) with a letter promising to address their concerns. But the Madhesi leaders had already left the TMDP office.
“We did not get credible assurance from the CPN-UML,” said Upendra Yadav, chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum, on behalf of the front.
As the front decided to be neutral in the election on Wednesday, Khanal, accompanied by leaders Ishwar Pokharel and Bharat Mohan Adhikari, had reached the TMDP office to garner the support of Madhesi parties. Khanal, however, could not give a credible plan to impress the Madhesi parties.
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