Next round too unlikely to yield result

REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, Sept 27: The deadlock over prime ministerial election is likely to continue further, with the UCPN (Maoist) and the CPN-UML pushing for an end to the ongoing election process and the Nepali Congress (NC) sticking to it.

With Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal´s withdrawal of candidacy, NC leader Ram Chandra Paudel remains the sole candidate in the current prime ministerial race.

As lawmakers from the UCPN (Maoist) and CPN-UML, who make up a majority in the House, have decided to not participate in the ongoing election process, Paudel does not stand the chance to win the election.

But the election process will not end either, according to Speaker Subash Nembang, until the ongoing process ends, which is possible only if Paudel withdraws his candidacy as well.

The NC is already under pressure to do so after the Maoist move, but Poudel, at least for now, is adamant on not quitting the race as there is "a conspiracy behind the Maoist move to withdraw its candidacy".

"My candidacy will continue until a new prime minister is elected. Is it ethical to say one not to participate in the government formation process?" asked Paudel. The NC is yet to formally discuss the next strategic move in the party.

Paudel said his party would, however, negotiate with the Maoists only if they are ready to reach an agreement on issues of the peace process and their sincere implementation.

But Maoists say withdrawal of candidacy by Paudel is a must if the current political deadlock is to end. "There is no way other than withdrawal of Paudel´s candidacy to end the current election process and garner consensus to end the political impasse," said Maoist Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha.

Maoists say they are ready to strike a deal on issues relating to the peace process and constitution drafting, but are not ready to fix the number of their combatants to be integrated into the security forces in advance, as demanded by the NC and UML.

The NC says the party is even ready for a Maoist-led government if the former rebels fix in advance the number of combatants for integration. However, Maoists have argued that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) meant integration, not recruitment, and capitulating to the NC´s demand amounts to surrender.

With the political parties sticking to their respective stances, the next round of voting to elect a new prime minister, slated for September 30, is also not likely to yield any result unless the parties make serious political moves for consensus.