“We will decide about national consensus government by mid-December,” said UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal after a three-hour meeting at Gokarna Village Resort. [break]
As per the agreement, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala, UML Chairman Khanal and the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) coordinator Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar will take decisions pertaining to national consensus government and power-sharing.
The seven-point peace deal as well as the six-point agreement signed ahead of the CA term extension clearly state that a national consensus government will complete the remaining tasks of the peace and constitution drafting process.
The leaders are at loggerheads over whether the incumbent prime minister, Baburam Bhattarai, will continue as the head of the national consensus government or a new one will be elected.
While NC leader Ram Chandra Paudel said the top leaders would take a decision on the government leadership, UML leader Bhim Rawal argued that Bhattarai should resign to pave the way for forming a national consensus government.
The four-party meeting also decided to appoint Dr Madan Pariyar, a dalit, as the member of the recently formed State Restructuring Commission. The new appointment came as the political parties were criticized for excluding dalit in the commission.
According to Rawal, the parties also agreed to remove squatters from the banks of the Bagmati River. “We have decided to remove the constructions erected on the public land,” said Rawal.
Likewise, Prime Minister Bhattarai expressed commitment not to release any money to the Youth Self-employment Fund. Parties have criticized the government charging that the fund was misused. The parties also agreed to endorse the bills on Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Disappeared.
´Bhattarai will continue as PM´
Meanwhile, Maoist leader Ram Karki stated that the current prime minister, Baburam Bhattarai, will head the national consensus government as well.
“The prime minister will not resign. The major tasks of the government are to complete the peace and constitution drafting which are moving ahead smoothly. So why should the prime minister resign?” Karki said.
He was responding to a public statement by Minister for Local Development Top Bahadur Rayamajhi who said the prime minister is ready to resign if there is consensus among the parties. However, he issued a press statement Sunday accusing the media of distorting his statement.
Related story
Speaker asks top leaders - election or consensus?
