4 party continue talks, hope to find solution by tommorrow

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Feb. 14, Kathmandu : The big four political parties and the United Madhesi Democratic Front (UDMF) intensified the debates and discussions on Thursday as well in a bid to forge consensus on the leadership of an election government. 

However, indecision on the part of the CPN-UML on the proposal of the Chief Justice leading the election government failed today’s efforts for a consensus.In order to engage the parties in the talks so as to expedite the process to find solution to the current problems, President Ram Baran Yadav hosted the parties for two times in his residence today and garnered their views and updates on consensus efforts. In the morning meeting with the President and UCPN-Maoist and Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML said it would come up with a decision after holding its standing committee meeting. 

However, its standing committee meeting failed to come up with any concrete view about whether it was for the CJ’s leadership of the election government. As a result, the party then entrusted the responsibility of taking the decision to its central committee meeting, which has been scheduled for tomorrow. In the second time meeting with the President, the parties said the talks were going on positively and would make headway to a conclusion after UML’s central committee decision.

 Talking to media persons following the meeting, UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said the parties were very serious about seeking solution to the problems. “We hope, the parties would be able to reach a deal by next evening,” he said.

The talks about the leadership of the government made some progress after the Nepali Congress on Wednesday decided that it would accept the leadership of the Chief Justice once the election was ensured without breaching democratic norms and independence of the judiciary. Asked about political consensus on the CJ-led government, the UML Chairman said, ” The CJ-led government will be formed if the standing committee’s decision today gets an approval from the central committee meeting to be held tomorrow.”

Likewise, NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel said this afternoon’s meeting did not enter into the main agenda. Today’s meeting has been postponed for 2:00 pm Friday where the leaders of all parties will come with their parties’ officials view on the new government, Poudel added. “Our central committee has given the senior leaders with the right to take decision in this regard. However, we are open to all other options,” he told reporters after the meeting.

Poudel told journalists that UCPN (Maoist) Chairman has said that there would be no discussions in other options proposed by the NC due to time constraints. Likewise, UCPN (Maoist) Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that formal decision was yet to be reached though the discussions were positive. “UML’s proposal and presentation is also positive. The UML leaders have asked for some more time for holding central committee meeting after the standing committee meeting as well. Consensus will be forged tomorrow. We are hopeful,” Shrestha added.

The parties continue to differ over the leadership of the government despite agreeing several times to go for elections since the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly, and as a result the political deadlock continues to prolong, Lately, when differences took a serious turn, the opposition parties took to the streets nationwide calling for resignation of the incumbent government while the ruling parties came up with people’s mobilization bid.

Though Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala was proposed as the prime ministerial candidate on behalf of the opposition parties, consensus remained elusive in his name too. Discussions have now zeroed in for elections under the leadership of the incumbent Chief Justice following the general convention of UCPN (Maoist) in Hetauda.

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has been repeatedly urging the political parties to reach to consensus at the earliest by holding separate and joint meetings after the generation convention of UCPN (Maoist). The parties have intensified their efforts for a consensus of late since the election said to be held in coming May is drawing closer. RSS