Consensus govt chance slim

REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, Jan 25: The three-party meeting on Monday ended inconclusively after the Maoists argued that there is no point in holding talks if the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML don´t accept a Maoist-led consensus government.

“Why hold the meeting if both the parties don´t accept our leadership in the government?” a leader quoted Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal as saying during the meeting at Hotel Radisson in the capital.

The chances of forming a consensus-based government now look slim, with each of the three major parties staking claim for government leadership.

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav had extended the deadline, under the request of the major parties, for formation of national consensus government till Wednesday.

“We could not reach consensus as all the parties claimed government leadership,” NC parliamentary leader Ram Chandra Paudel told reporters after the meeting.

The NC and UML have argued that they would not accept a Maoist-led government unless the Maoists cooperate with the government to drive the peace process and constitution-drafting forward.

NC President Sushil Koirala staked claim to form new government arguing that it was his party´s turn to head the government as the Maoists and the UML have already led the government after the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections.

And Khanal argued that there is no possibility of a Maoist-led government given the political reality on the ground.

“There is no possibility of a Maoist-led government at this juncture. So the Maoists should not stake claim for government leadership,” a leader quoted UML Chairman Khanal as saying during the meeting.

Responding to the arguments of the NC and the UML, Dahal stated that he doesn´t see the possibility of reaching consensus in the meeting as the parties don´t accept Maoist leadership in the government, and the meeting ended inconclusively.

The leaders however agreed to hold bilateral talks on Tuesday and again hold a trilateral meeting on Wednesday in an attempt to strike a package deal on the peace process, constitution-drafting and power-sharing.

Maoist leader Narayankaji Shrestha stated his party being the largest in the parliament should be allowed to lead the government. “It is natural for us to claim the government leadership,” he said. He argued that his party has reiterated its commitment, in deeds, to the peace process and has fulfilled the major demands of the non-Maoist parties, which further makes party qualified to head the government.

Earlier on Monday, a standing committee meeting of the CPN-UML decided to adopt flexible policy while holding talks with other political parties in connection with forming consensus government.

However, leaders at the meeting repeated their previous stances at the meeting. While Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal reiterated that the UML must give continuity to its alliance with Nepali Congress, Chairman Jhalanath Khanal stressed that the Maoists should not be isolated.

"Prime Minister clearly insisted that UML must vote for NC candidate but the chairman, myself and some other members emphasized on the need to bring the Maoists on board," UML Vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam told Republica.