NC leaders pressed for consensus on PM candidate

KATHMANDU, June 18: Amid differences over whether the parliamentary party leader is to be the sole prime ministerial candidate from the party, Central Working Committee (CWC) members of the Nepali Congress have pressed the party leadership to arrive at a consensus candidate.



A majority of the leaders taking part in deliberations during the ongoing CWC meeting Friday exerted pressure on all three candidates - Vice-president and Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel, senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and General Secretary KB Gurung - who have publicly staked a claim to be the party´s prime ministerial candidate, to arrive at a consensus on their own. [break]



According to CWC member Binaya Dhwaj Chand, the CWC members argued that differences among the top leadership could send forth a negative message and also affect unity within the party.



“There are no differences as such over the individual to be chosen as prime ministerial candidate,” said Chand. “A majority of members speaking during the meeting today urged the leaders to arrive at a consensus on the name and give forth a message of unity in the party.”



Friday´s CWC meeting also saw leaders supporting PP leader Ram Chandra Poudel and senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba make claims and counter-claims for their respective man.



Some 12 CWC members including Krishna Prasad Sitaula, NP Saud, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Bhishma Angdangwe, Arjun Narsingh KC, Gopal Man Shrestha, Suprabha Ghimire, Sushil Man Sherchan, Uma Regmi, Meena Pandey and Bal Bahadur KC had taken part in the deliberations.



Some CWC members had argued that it was too early to initiate discussions on the party´s prime ministerial candidate since the incumbent prime minister has not yet tendered his resignation and the party is yet to initiate a dialogue with other parties to find out their opinions about a NC-led government.



The members insisted that the party should instead focus on how to conclude the ongoing peace process and promulgate a new constitution on time.



The CWC meeting has been called again for Friday as there are a large number of CWC members who are yet to state their opinion on the current political situation and issues related to the prime ministerial candidate.

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