Nepali Congress yields to everyone's wishes

KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress today withdrew its Parliamentary Party leader Ramchandra Paudel’s candidacy from the 17th prime ministerial run-off to what many said will pave the way for a government on ‘national consensus basis’.

With NC deciding to pull out from the race, the Parliament is scheduled to sit tomorrow and chalk out a plan for

fresh election process by amending the existing parliamentary regulations.

NC Central Working Committee today called an emergency meeting at the International Convention Centre, which also houses the Constituent Assembly, and decided to withdraw Paudel’s candidacy. NC’s decision follows a formal request by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to pull out of the election to avert further embarrassment to the party and also to keep the left-democratic alliance intact.

The CPN-UML, a major ally of the left-democratic alliance, had already decided to vote against Paudel if the election were to be held. UML sources said UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal ‘wanted Paudel to remain in the race so that he could be voted out’. “PM’s letter played a major role to quash Khanal’s plan of defeating Paudel and break the left-democratic alliance,” added the source.

“National consensus is the need of the hour,” Nepal said in his letter addressed to NC President Sushil Koirala. “I also stepped down to pave the way for the formation of a unity government.” Earlier today, 17 fringe parties had also requested NC to pull out of the 17th run-off for the longevity of left-democratic alliance.

“The NC CWC meeting has decided to withdraw Paudel’s candidacy to pave the way for peace, the constitution and a consensus government,” said Prakash Man Singh, NC general secretary, at the end of the NC CWC meeting.

PM Nepal stepped down on June 30 and the prime ministerial election began on July 21. UML Chairman Khanal pulled out of the race from the first round while UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal

Dahal quit the race a week before the eighth run-off on September 26 following a UML-Maoist three-point deal on September 17. The NC, in fact, wanted to postpone today’s election till tomorrow so that its CWC could decide on withdrawing Paudel’s candidacy. But the UCPN-Maoist objected to the idea saying the already scheduled election could not be postponed simply because the NC needed time to hold its CWC.

Speaker Subas Nembang also told NC and UML leaders that postponement of the election was impossible and asked them to find a way out immediately.

Addressing the House, NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, who proposed Paudel as NC prime ministerial candidate, proposed withdrawal of his candidacy. The House unanimously passed the proposal.

Maoist Chairman Dahal said fresh process would begin from tomorrow. He said that the UCPN-M, as the largest party in the CA, would lay claim on leading the next government, which, he said, should be formed on a consensus basis. “We had been calling for the end of the meaningless election for long,” he said.

Paudel, the sole candidate till today, said his party decided to pull out of the election as the UML, other fringe parties and even the Maoists pressed for it. He said the parties had reached a ‘general understanding’ on writing a democratic constitution and conclude the peace process.

“Withdrawal of my candidacy will create an environment for the peace, constitution and unity government,” said Paudel. He, however, added, his candidacy would remain intact in fresh election process.

UML Chairman Khanal said withdrawing Paudel’s candidacy was a positive step towards reaching consensus for peace, the constitution and a unity government. Asked if he considers himself the deserving candidate to lead the next government, Khanal said, “It is up to the parties to decide. I am ready for it if the parties trust my leadership.”

The beginning and end of futility

• July 21: House goes on first round of voting UML Chairman Khanal pulls out prior to election

• Sept 18: Maoist Chairman Dahal withdraws candidacy

• Sept 26: Eighth run-off, NC PP leader Paudel sole candidate

• Nov 20: House prorogued

• Dec 19: Special House session convenes, ends in a jiffy

• Dec 23: Special session ends

• Jan 9: Winter House session begins Speakers sets Jan 12 date for 17th run-off

• Jan 12: NC withdraws Paudel’s candidacy, no voting

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