The meeting was convened with an objective of pushing the leaders to end the protracted deadlock in government formation, constitution writing and the peace process.[break]
UCPN (Maoist) and CPN-UML leaders urged Nepali Congress (NC) prime ministerial candidate Ram Chandra Paudel to withdraw his candidacy and pave the way for forging consensus among the parties on electing a new prime minister. But Paudel turned down the proposal outright. He said he would pull out of the race only after settling contentious issues surrounding the peace process.
"Implementation of past agreements on the peace process is a precondition for creating the environment for power sharing. We must do that before we enter into the agenda on government formation," Paudel told reporters outside the Speaker´s chamber at Singha Durbar, where the meeting convened.
NC leaders have been repeatedly saying that they would not withdraw Paudel´s candidacy let alone accept Maoist leadership of a new government unless the Maoists transform their party into a civilian organization. Maoist Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha termed the NC´s argument ridiculous.
"Our combatants have already been camped inside UN-monitored cantonments and their weapons have been locked inside containers as per the Comprehensive Peace Accord. Therefore, the UCPN (Maoist) is already a civilian party," Shrestha claimed.
The NC demanded categorical answers from the Maoists on various crucial issues related to the peace process prior to withdrawal of Paudel´s candidacy. According to NC Chief Whip Laxman Ghimire, they reiterated that the number of combatants to be integrated into national security forces and the timeframe for vacating the cantonments should be fixed beforehand.
"We made it clear at the meeting that the NC can withdraw the candidacy only after a calendar of operations on the peace process is prepared," Ghimire said.
While Maoist and UML leaders seem hopeful of making Paudel withdraw from the race after piling pressure on him, NC leaders rule out such a possibility. "We told them clearly that Paudel is not going to clear the field, bowing to Maoist and UML pressure," Ghimire said.
The NC leaders have termed the three-point agreement reached recently between Maoist and UML leaders a scheme to form a two-party government sidelining the NC. Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had been ready to withdraw his candidacy following the deal and the UML, in return, agreed not to cast its votes for any of the candidates.
The NC has also strongly objected to the Maoist and UML leaders´ proposal to end the ongoing prime ministerial election process through an amendment to parliamentary regulations. "Let´s see who will dare to amend the regulations without taking the NC into confidence." Ghimire challenged. At the meeting, participated by senior leaders including UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, leaders from Madhes-based parties including Bijay Gachchhadar of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic came down heavily on the Maoist and UML leaders. "Didn´t you remember while signing the two-party agreement that the NC and Madhes-based parties are also decisive forces in this country?" one leader quoted Gachchhadar as saying at the meeting.
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