The proposal handed over to the UCPN(Maoist) during a meeting on Wednesday afternoon came amidst mounting pressure on the NC from various quarters to withdraw its prime ministerial candidacy and end the current political deadlock.[break]
At a separate meeting of the NC with top leaders of the Maoists and the UML, the three parties agreed to expedite consultations for forging consensus in line with the proposal floated by the NC. Party sources said that while the UML and Maoists want the NC to withdraw its prime ministerial candidacy, the NC insisted that any withdrawal of the candidacy should be made part of the proposed package deal.
In its proposal, the NC stressed that any effort to forge consensus just to form a new government without addressing contentious issues related to the peace process and the writing of a constitution was not an appropriate way to end the lingering political deadlock and such attempts would only take the country towards fresh political uncertainty.
The NC maintained that it has no objection to the Maoists leading the government if they implemented all past agreements, including reliable action plans for the management of their combatants, state restructuring and an independent judiciary, among other things.
NC dismissed the allegation that it was responsible for the deadlock in parliament surrounding election of the prime ministerial and argued that the deadlock was due to the deliberate behavior of political parties not to cast their decisive votes in the election of the country’s top executive.
Talking to media persons after the meeting with the NC, Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said they will sit for yet another round of dialogue with the NC after studying the latter’s proposal. “We have told them that prolonging the caretaker government will invite serious problems in the country,” he said.
UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari told media that NC and the UML have agreed in principle to work out a package deal to conclude the peace process within three and half months and promulgate a new constitution within the next eight months.
Related story
Dashain aayo (again)
