While the picture of the new coalition and its leadership still remains sketchy, formation of a national consensus government seems very much unlikely. [break]
As the single largest party in parliament, main opposition UCPN (Maoist) is the first claimant to stake the leadership claim. But other parties are not ready to accept Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal as the prime minister.
Maoist Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai said his party would now take initiatives for the formation of the consensus government. "The prime minister´s resignation has opened the door for national consensus," he said. "We will stake claim for leading the new national consensus government," he said.
Bhattarai argued the Maoist should be given to head the new government. Since the second (Nepali Congress), third (CPN-UML) and the fourth (Madhesi People´s Rights Forum) largest parties have president, CA chairman and vice president, respectively from their parties, the Maoists should get the prime ministerial berth, he said.
But Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have ruled out the possibility of forming new government under the Maoist leadership as long as they do not transform themselves into a civilian party.
NC General Secretary Bimalendra Nidhi and UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel said the Maoist commitment to forge national consensus by implementing the past agreements will be a litmus test for the party.
- Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have ruled out the possibility of forming new government under the Maoist leadership as long as they do not transform themselves into a civilian party.
- UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel Pokharel sees less possibility of forming national consensus government due to the contentious issues related to the peace process.
"It is now to be seen whether the Maoists will be prepared to complete the remaining tasks of peace process and constitution drafting as agreed in the three-point deal reached on May 28," Nidhi said.
Pokharel said forming a Maoist-headed government is just impossible until the party completely detaches itself from its combatants.
Pokharel sees less possibility of forming national consensus government due to the contentious issues related to the peace process. "There are more chances of the formation of majority government," he said.
Leaders say consensus is not likely mainly due to the contentious issues surrounding the peace process and also because of time constraints as president is likely to give not more than four days time to the parties for formation of national consensus government.
When asked if the Maoist would lead the majority government, Bhattarai said majority coalition would not be able to ensure peace and constitution. "We should not opt for that," Bhattarai said.
UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari, who is actively involved in inter-party talks, believes that the Maoists will be ready to join the government headed by a non-Maoist leader.
However, the same is difficult to predict if a majority government is to be formed. When there will be exercises to form majority government, the present NC-UML-headed alliance will stake leadership claim while there are also chances of breaking the alliance and forming another coalition.
If the Maoists fail to secure prime ministerial berth in the national consensus government, it will be in their best interest to break the present coalition. In such a situation, the Maoists will unconditionally propose UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal as the next prime minister.
It will be difficult for anti-Khanal factions within UML to object to such a proposal. According to Maoist spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma, Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal already held a meeting with Khanal Wednesday morning.
But the NC will opt to stay in opposition if there is UML-Maoist coalition. Similarly, if the NC-UML alliance forms the new government, it is almost certain that the Maoists will choose to stay in the opposition.
As far as the Madhes-based parties are concerned, their position will be vulnerable and their efforts will be to secure ministerial berth in the new coalition.
The main opposition Maoist and the prime minister´s party CPN-UML have called the parties´ Standing Committee (SC) meetings for Thursday.
The fourth largest party in parliament, Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF), said that a new government should be a consensus government.
MPRF´s Co-Chairman JP Gupta said the ball is now in the Maoist´s court since the prime minister has stepped down.
If, Gupta adds, the Maoists do not come up with a concrete action plan with regard to concluding the peace process and constitution writing, his party will not support the Maoists in the formation of the next government.
thira@myrepublica.com
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