After garnering support from UCPN (Maoist) and a few other small parties in writing, Khanal sent the message to Nepal through UML leaders Bharat Mohan Adhikari, Bishnu Poudel and Yuvraj Gyawali not to withdraw the candidacy. [break]
"Later, he met Nepal in person and made a request not to withdraw the candidacy as there were chances of him winning if he stayed in the race," sources said.
Prime Minister Nepal, who feels that Khanal had worked behind the scenes with the UCPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to force his resignation, was in no mood to comply. He withdrew the proposal, citing the party´s Central Committee decision. Khanal´s candidacy was proposed by Nepal and seconded by Poudel.
This revelation contradicts public stance by Khanal. The UML chairman has publicly maintained that he would not accept anything short of two thirds majority. He had been insisting that there was no point in replacing one simple-majority-wielding-government with another.
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