Madhesi front to vote for Prachanda: MJF;NC may opt out of PM race: Sujata

Himalayan News Service

KATHMANDU/BIRATNAGAR: Whip of the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum parliamentary party Abhishek Pratap Shah today claimed that the United Democratic Madhesi Front will vote for Pushpa Kamal Dahal during the prime ministerial election scheduled for August 2.

“We will form a majority government, which would eventually turn into a national consensus government,” he claimed while addressing an interaction here.

Shah claimed that Prachanda would become the PM of the majority government on August 2 as the front will unanimously vote for him. He also urged CPN-UML not to abstain from voting, as such a decision would only lead the nation towards uncertainty.

Leader of another faction of the UDMF — MJF-Democratic — Sanjay Kumar Sah, however, claimed that the front will not vote for Prachanda because UCPN-Maoist was yet to turn into a civilian party. “Front should abstain from voting even on of August 2, as none of the candidates have come up with clear commitment on the demands of the front,” he argued.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of caretaker government Sujata Koirala today said the Nepali Congress might announce the withdrawal of Ram Chandra Paudel’s candidacy for PM to pave way for national consensus.

Speaking at a press meet organised by Nepal Press Union Morang branch in Biratnagar, she said, “Nepali Congress will not pose any obstacle for national consensus. My party is even ready to withdraw the candidacy of the PM, if required.”

She also claimed that Prachanda could not be accepted as prime minister unless the Maoists did not abide by the first point of May 28 three-point agreement reached among the three major parties.

She added that if the Maoists distanced themselves from their arms and army our party would accept the Maoist leadership in the government. She also claimed that her party had no lust for power and was ready to sacrifice for national consensus.

She said incumbent government failed due as it did not forge consensus. “It could not work for the welfare of the people,” she added. She also opined that all the parties sho-uld focus on the peace process and the statute-drafting process rather than craving for power. She added that discussions were on in NC on extending the tenure of UNMIN. Koir-ala said, “Just blaming the UNMIN for all that is wrong will not serve purpose,” she added.