While Poudel held separate parleys with influential CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli and Chairman of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) Narayan Man Bijukchhe in the morning, there were separate meetings of NC leaders with four Madhes-based parties -- Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D), MPRF, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party and Sadbhawana Party -- and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairman Pashupati SJB Rana later in the afternoon. [break]
Talking to myrepublica.com, Oli said it was natural for the NC to seek support of other parties as the party has already picked Poudel as its prime ministerial candidate. He said he told Poudel that UML will support him after passing a decision through the party´s Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting.
Bijukchhe told Poudel that NWPP would take a decision whether to support him or not only after seeing plan and policies of the the proposed NC-led government. The NWPP has five seats in parliament.
In a meeting held at the NC´s Parliamentary Party Office in Singha Durbar in the afternoon, the four Madhesi political parties asked the NC to first clear its view on three different issues related to peace process, constitution drafting and Madhes agenda.
"The NC sought our support for a government under their leadership," Chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) Upendra Yadav told reporters after the meeting.
- UML leader KP Oli says it is natural for the NC to seek support of other parties as the party has already picked Poudel as its prime ministerial candidate.
- Bijukchhe says NWPP would take a decision whether to support Paudel or not only after seeing plan and policies of the proposed NC-led govt.
- Madhesi parties ask the NC to first seek support of the UML as the latter plays a determining role in the formation of an NC-led government.
"We asked them how they plan to ensure timely constitution writing, conclude peace process and address the Madhesi agenda, which, among others, includes creation of autonomous provinces," he said.
Almost all top leaders of the four Madhesi parties were present in the meeting that lasted for more than an hour from 2.15 pm. Besides Yadav, TMDP Chief Mahantha Thakur and SP chairman Rajendra Mahato were present in the talks. MPRF (Democratic) Chairman Bijay Gachchhadar was represented by Rameshwar Raya Yadav and Jitendra Dev.
MPRF Chief Yadav said the Madhesi parties would hold further talks among themselves before announcing their support.
NC Spokesperson Arjun Narsingh KC told media persons that the talks were "positive". He declined to divulge further details.
According to an NC leader present in the meeting, the Madhesi parties asked the NC to first seek support of the UML as it plays a determining role in the formation of an NC-led government. “First garner support from the UML,” the leader quoted Madhesi parties as saying. “We will then talk to you about it.”
With the Big Three -- UCPN (Maoist), the NC and CPN-UML -- still unable to forge consensus and exploring all options for government formation under their leadership, the support of the four Madhesi parties, which have revived their practically defunct united front, could tilt the balance. Madhesi parties have 82 seats in parliament.
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