By Friday evening, 298 lawmakers representing 20 parties and two independents in the Constituent Assembly (CA) had extended their support to UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal as the next prime ministerial candidate.
UML is still trying to persuade Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-Nepal), Nepal Workers Peasants Party (NWPP), CPN (Unified), Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) and Gayatri Sah of Rastriya Janata Dal.
RPP (Nepal) has 4 parliamentarians, NWPP has 5, CPN (Unified) 2 and MPRF 53 while the Unified CPN (Maoist) has 238.
RPP (Nepal) is set to make clear its position on Sunday while NWPP adjourned its meeting on Friday evening till Saturday morning.
"We are still in consultation with those parties which have not decided their position and we are sure they will support our candidate," said UML Secretary Shankar Pokharel.
NWPP Secretary Sunil Prajapati said his party is to decide on Saturday whether or not to support the UML candidate for heading the next government. "Today we discussed the current political situation and we will make our position clear on Saturday," said Prajapati.
A central committee meeting of the MPRF has already decided that the next government will be formed under its leadership. MPRF has also decided not to join a government under the leadership of any other political party. However, MPRF leaders including Bijaya Kumar Gachchedar and Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav have expressed serious reservations over the party´s decision not to accept the leadership of any other party. They have argued that the party should remain open over this matter.
Party insiders said Gachchhadar is strongly lobbying for joining a coalition government under UML leadership. He issued a statement Friday evening protesting the decision of the party´s central committee. The party has adjourned its ongoing parliamentary party meeting until Monday.
As of now, UML is not likely to claim leadership of the next government until a decision is made by either RPP (Nepal) or NWPP by Saturday at the latest.
"We will claim leadership as soon as we get support from at least one more lawmaker by tomorrow," said UML leader Raghu Panta.
UML chief Khanal against mathematical equation
CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal on Friday said forming the government through mathematical calculations may create difficulties in drafting a new constitution.
Speaking at a program organized by the UML student body-- All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU), Khanal stressed the need to form a national consensus government.
The UML Chairman has pushed for a national consensus government at a time when the party has already announced its senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal as the prime ministerial candidate for a majority government.
Those supporting UML candidate:
Nepali Congress-114
CPN (UML)-109
Tarai Madhes Democratic Party-21
Sadbhawana Party-9
Rastriya Prajantantra Party-8
CPN (Marxist-Leninist)-9
Rastriya Janamorcha -4
CPN(United)-5 (Yet to sign)
Rastriya Janashakti Party-3
Rastriya Janata Dal-1
Rastriya Janamukti Party-2
Samajwadi Prajatantrik Janata Party Nepal-1
Nepal Pariwar Dal-1
Nepa: Rastriya Party-1
Chure Bhawar Rastriya Ekata Party Nepal-1
Independent-2
Nepal Loktantrik Samajwadi Dal-1
NSP (Gupta)-1
NSP (Sarita)-2
Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch-2
Dalit Janajati Party -1
Total-298
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