On Tuesday, the party held talks with eight small political parties including the Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) and tried to convince them on the need for a special session of parliament.[break]
“They asked for our support for special session of the parliament. But we suggested to them to go for regular winter session instead of some special session and settle the political issues including the election of the prime minister,” said MPRF Chairman Upendra Yadav after the meeting.
He said that his party agrees with the Maoist stance that the government made a mistake by abruptly proroguing the budget session and introducing the budget through ordinance.
Other political parties participating at the meeting were Nepal Sadbhavana Party, CPN (Ekikrit), CPN (ML-Socialist), Rastriya Janamukti Party, Nepa Rastriya Party, Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Party and Nepal Janata Dal.
Issuing a statement after the meeting, the seven small political parties stated that they object to the government move to abruptly prorogue the budget session and demanded that the government immediately call House session.
Maoist Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha said his party wants support of other political parties for an early parliamentary session, whether regular or special, to settle the political disputes and begin the prime ministerial election afresh.
“We are also holding informal talks with the CPN-UML about this,” said Shrestha.
The Maoist vice-chairman added that his party would go for “special session” only if the government declines its request to call for a regular winter session.
The constitution doesn´t clearly say anything about special session, but states that the president should summon parliament session if one-fourth of the parliamentarians so demand.
The major parties want the House session for different reasons. The NC wants it just to get its prime ministerial candidate, Ram Chandra Poudel, elected as the next prime minister. The UML faction led by party chairman Jhalanath Khanal wants the House to amend the regulations on voting for prime minister so that a fresh round of voting can be started with new candidates. The Maoists also favor the amendment on voting for PM but they also want to get the finance ordinance registered in the House so that it has to be passed within the next 60 days.
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