Govt's political status is caretaker: PM

REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, June 3: Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal said at a meeting of the CPN-UML on Thursday that his government is politically a caretaker one but has a constitutionally full-fledged status, following the signing of the five-point deal among major political parties.

Addressing the Central Committee (CC) meeting of the CPN-UML, Khanal, who is also party chairman, urged the party´s CC members not to waste too much energy lobbying for or against the issue of the prime minister´s resignation, saying that he was ready to act as per the deal.

"Since we have already reached a political agreement I am very clear that my government´s status is politically that of a caretaker but constitutionally that of a full-fledged one and I am not in favor of prolonging my stay in office just to enjoy state facilities in that capacity," a senior UML leader close to the prime minister quoted him as saying.

The prime minister, according to the UML leader, made the statement after some of the leaders demanded that he make his position clear as contradictory interpretations were being made of point number 5 in the deal, which concerns the prime minister´s resignation. While leaders close to Khanal argued that the agreement meant he would step down only after the major political parties were ready with another prime ministerial candidate, members from the rival faction argued that the prime minister was bound to step down beforehand to pave the way for the formation of a new government.

"This is exactly the same statement I gave last year concerning the previous government after a similar deal was reached and I am firm in my conviction that the present government also has the same status," said the prime minister at the meeting. "Friends don´t need to argue and counter-argue in this connection since I am in serious discussions with Prachandaji and Sushilji [Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala] over the matter."

According to the UML leaders, the prime minister tried to convince the CC members that he was not going to cling on to office once the major parties came up with an alternative candidate for prime minister but he would not also quit the post in a situation that would cause a political void.

According to CC member Karna Thapa, many leaders emphasize that the five-point deal should replace the controversial seven-point agreement reached between Khanal and Maoist Chairman Dahal just ahead of Khanal´s election as prime minister. Altogether 24 members aired their views at the meeting.

"Since the five-point deal has clearly mentioned that the prime minister should pave the way [for the formation of a new government] after the minimum ground for forming a national consensus government is ready, and this has been endorsed by parliament, we urge one and all not to drag this issue into controversy but to concentrate all their efforts on accomplishing the peace process," a statement issued by the party said.

The party´s all-powerful body, CC, endorsed the five-point deal and recommended to party leaders to give utmost priority to utilizing the extended three-month term of the Constituent Assembly (CA) for preparing a draft of the new constitution and accomplishing the fundament tasks of the peace process.

The UML has passed a special proposal saying that the tasks of fixing the number of Maoist combatants to be integrated into government security agencies and those to be rehabilitated should be fixed within the period of a week. Likewise, the UML has said that rank harmonization, the formation of a separate force following integration, ending of dual security for top Maoist leaders and preparing a package for Maoist combatants opting for rehabilitation in society, should all be accomplished within a week.