Koirala, who is currently in Jhapa in the course of participating in the party´s functions, made the remarks for the first time even as the UML in its politburo meeting earlier this week announced to forge alliance with democratic forces in the fresh election. [break]
“We became weak as we contested in the election on individual basis in the past. Now electoral adjustments could be made with the UML and other democratic forces,” Koirala said.
Koirala, however, clarified that the party would not make electoral adjustments in all constituencies. There could be cooperation and adjustment in some specific areas, he said.
Koirala also said that the UCPN (Maoist) as the largest party in the erstwhile Constituent Assembly (CA) was solely to be blamed for its failure to draft new statute. “The issues of cooperation and electoral adjustments have come up as democracy was weakened due to emergence of the UCPN (Maoist) as the largest party,” he said.
Koirala said, “We have not yet held discussion on the issue. But such voices are being raised. There could be electoral adjustment in 10 to 12 constituencies.”
Talking to local journalists, Koirala also said that the issue of electoral adjustments and cooperation will figure in the next Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of the party. He hinted that he personally is in favor of forging electoral adjustments and alliance with other democratic forces.
In the last CA election held in April, 2008, UCPN (Maoist) had stood as the as the largest party. NC was reduced to second largest party although it had remained as the largest party in all previous parliamentary elections. Koirala himself lost in the last elections.
Though he did not divulge details, Koirala hinted that electoral adjustments with UML could be made for ensuring that NC´s top leaders do not lose in their constituencies. He stressed the need for forging working alliance and adjustments with other democratic forces for the larger interest of the nation, people and democracy.
Inaugurating the fifth central convention of Nepal Tea Workers Association later in the day, Koirala appealed to party cadres to defeat the forces that are opposed to democracy in the upcoming elections. “The defeat of democratic forces has made the nation and the people suffer a lot,” he said. Koirala also said that preparations are under way to hold CA election by November.
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