10th round poll unlikely today, says Paudel

Himalayan News Service

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Paudel today said there were chances that the 10th round of prime ministerial poll slated for tomorrow may be cancelled. In any case, it is almost certain that the polling will be inconclusive.

A three-party meeting held today at the Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party office failed to make any headway. Leaders of the three major parties reiterated their stance and decided to hold another round of meeting at 12:15 pm tomorrow at CPN-UML PP office.

The Unified CPN-Maoist and CPN-UML asked the NC to withdraw its candidacy from the PM’s runoff to clear the way for finding solution to the contentious issues. While NC proposed that a package deal was must before it announced the withdrawal of Ram Chandra Paudel’s candidacy.

Paudel, who is the sole candidate left in the race after UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal withdrew his candidacy after the seventh round, led NC in the meeting.

“Until we iron out differences on contentious issues we can never form a consensus government. Withdrawing candidacy without resolving them will only create more uncertainty and vacuum,” said NC leader Arjun Narsingh KC. If a fresh polling process begins with differences prevailing, the new scenario will be no better than the present one, he added.

“We proposed that the three major parties form a joint team to find a way out of the crisis. Tomorrow’s meeting will take up NC’s proposal,” KC added.

Constituent Assembly has only eight months remaining for drafting new constitution and the process has been relegated to back burner since the parties have failed to elect a new PM after Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned on June 30.

UCPN-M vice chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha ‘Prakash’ said his party requested NC to form new government through fresh polling and bring the budget before Dashain festival through a new government.

“Although NC did not accept the request today, the three parties will hold intense talks to find a way out,” he added.

UML chairman Jhalanath Khanal proposed to hold regular discussions on contentious issues until the parties reached a consensus. Top leaders of the three parties were present at the meeting.

Runoff poll is scheduled for 3 pm tomorrow.