PM Dahal for electing ‘candidate acceptable to all parties’ as new Prez

Published On: February 10, 2023 09:00 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Feb 10: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is also the chairman of the CPN (Maoist Center), has proposed electing a candidate who is acceptable to all parties as the country’s new president.

Addressing the party’s central committee meeting held virtually on Thursday, Chairman Dahal said that the party should put maximum efforts to find a candidate who is acceptable to all political parties and is recognized by the state for his/her contribution to national life.

“The president has to be a national personality. The person has to be recognized by the state and the one who loves the constitution. Let’s try to find a national personality for the new president,” a Maoist Center leader quoted Dahal as saying.

Chairman Dahal said the Maoist Center should remain open to any such candidate no matter which party that person may have allegiance to. “Such a person may be of any political party. We have not yet reached the discussion of any party or the character. We should try to find a new president while making sure that the current alliance continues to exist,” he further said.

Although the Maoist Center had earlier reached an understanding to elect a UML candidate as the new president, Nepali Congress (NC), which extended its support to Prime Minister Dahal during the vote of confidence in parliament, has stressed the need for forging national consensus on the new president. The Maoist Center has already decided to forge national consensus on the new president as the active party leaders, who were elected as president, could not safeguard the constitution.

Ruling party leaders said a High Level Political Committee (HPLC) meeting scheduled for Friday is expected to hold discussion on a new presidential candidate. The Maoist Center is set to propose electing a candidate who is acceptable to all parties as the new president. During his meeting with UML Chairman KP Oli, who is also the coordinator of the HPLC, on Thursday, Dahal shared his party’s proposal for a new president.