UML, 17 parties to stay neutral

KATHMANDU, Aug 5: The CPN-UML, which has remained neutral in the parliamentary vote for prime minister since August 2 has persuaded 17 other parties to do likewise.



Eighteen parties including UML and four Madhes-based ones at a meeting on Thursday also decided to request prime ministerial candidates Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Ram Chandra Paudel to withdraw their candidacies. [break]



"In view of the parliament´s failure to elect a new prime minister even after three rounds of voting in parliament, this meeting urges both the candidates to help pave the way for starting a new process through national consensus for electing a new prime minister," said a statement issued by UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel on behalf of the 18 parties who participated in the meeting.



Chandra Dev Joshi of CPN (Samyukta) who was present at the meeting said the parties -- except Rishiram Kattel, who represented CPN (Ekikrit) -- agreed to request the two candidates to withdraw their candidacies.



UML invited leaders from 22 of the 25 political parties (except for UCPN (Maoist) and NC) to the meeting. Of them leaders from Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, Janamukti Party and Janta Dal, all of whom voted for Dahal in the previous elections, didn´t attend the meeting held at UML head office. Also, no leader from Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal, which has promised to support Dahal if the party´s four votes help him win the election didn´t show up at Balkhu. Chitra Bahadur KC of Rastriya Janamorcha said he couldn´t attend the meeting due to his busy schedule.



At the meeting, leaders from all parties -- except Kattel -- had a common view that Maoist leadership of government can´t be accepted until they former rebel party completely detaches itself from its arms and armies.



Finally the parties reached an understanding to give continuity to their position of staying neutral as in the previous voting to pave the way for consensus.



Meanwhile, Nepali Congress met CPN-UML, Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (Democratic), Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party and Sadbhavana Party leaders jointly on Thursday and at the meeting CPN-UML was asked not to stay neutral for keeping intact the alliance of liberal democratic forces.

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