UML to stake claim to head new govt; Forum support based on Madhes issues

(Updated with corrections, 2300 NST, 1815 GMT)



KATHMANDU, May 8: Most of the Central Committee (CC) members of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) have suggested the party lead the next government. During the party CC meeting that kicked off Friday, the members argued that the party should be ready to lead a new coalition government instead of just supporting others like in the past. [break]



"Most of the members speaking at the meeting today (Friday) suggested the party take initiatives to form a national government under CPN-UML leadership," party general secretary Ishwar Pokharel told reporters after Friday´s meeting.



According to Pokharel, almost all the members stood for the formation of a national consensus government. He said the party will start consultations with other political parties to garner their support.



The meeting will continue on Saturday also. About 25 party leaders including its vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam, secretary Yubaraj Gyawali, Pradip Gyawali, Rajendra Shrestha and Ghanashyam Bhusal spoke at the meeting.



Earlier, party chairman Jhala Nath Khanal had presented a report on the party´s role in the current political developments. "The chairman said that the Maoist leadership misused the CPN-UML´s consent given in good faith when they sought clarifications from the army chief," a central member present at the meeting said.



A majority of the members termed President Dr Ram Baran Yadav´s move to reinstate the army chief as a "wrong step taken with good intention," according to Jagannath Khatiwada, a central committee member. A majority of the party leaders at the meeting termed the prime minister´s action against the army chief a "step that seemed to follow due process but was taken with ill intention", Khatiwada said.



Vice-chairman Gautam, who had written a note of dissent against the party decision to pull out of the government over differences about sacking the army chief, maintained his previous stance at Friday´s meeting as well, according to one party leader.



The political parties have intensified political consultations for forming a new government following the resignation of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on May 4.



Nepali Congress, the second largest party in the Constituent Assembly, has proposed that the CPN-UML must lead the next government. Maoist chairman and caretaker Prime Minister Dahal, who was reduced to a minority in parliament following his action against the army chief, said, however, on Wednesday that the Maoists would be leading the next government also.



Forum support based on issues



A political committee meeting of the Madhesi People´s Rights Forum has not yet made its view public on a future alliance.



The meeting held Friday agreed in principle to support a future alliance on the basis of issues but decided to meet again Saturday morning to take a decision whom to support, said Ram Janam Chaudhari, party chief whip in parliament.



The fourth largest party in the alliance, which holds the key to a future coalition, decided to put certain issues before political parties willing to lead a future coalition and support the party making a clear commitment to address those issues.



Majority of the members were in favor of joining a democratic alliance led by CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress but party leaders suggested that it would be better for them to first bargain over the issues of Madhes.



They decided to hold a press meet at 2 p.m. Saturday to make the party´s position on a future alliance clear, following a meeting again of the political committee, according to party spokesperson Jitendra Dev.



MPRF has restored its alliance with two other pro-Madhes political parties--Tarai Maddhes Democratic Party and Sadbhavana Party -- to collectively raise the issues of Madhes.



The alliance, Joint Madhes Democratic Front, will go for collective bargaining on the issues of tarai-Madhes and support whichever alliance is found to be positive towards Madhes, an MPRF leader said. "There is the biggest chance of the party joining a democratic alliance but it wants clear commitments before joining," said the leader.



Party chairman Upendra Yadav has supported a Maoist-led future alliance while parliamentary party leader Bijay Gachchhadar has stood for joining the UML-led coalition.



Gachchadar even met with NC president Girija Prasad Koirala Friday and discussed making a UML-led coalition stronger

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