The CWC members argued that the NC´s continued demand for government leadership will only serve the interests of UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is in favor of deferring the polls.[break]
“It is now clear that the Maoists want to prolong their stay in power, citing lack of consensus over government leadership. Our continued demand for government leadership would only serve the real interests of the Maoists,” argued CWC member Gagan Thapa.
Thapa added that the NC should stand ready to offer the prime ministerial berth to anyone, including Maoist Chairman Dahal, should he commit himself in writing to holding the polls my mid-May.
“Our agenda now is to hold fresh polls at the earliest. Since we cannot join the Baburam Bhattarai-led government for moral reason, why not offer Dahal the leadership of an all-party government if he stands ready to hold the polls by mid-May?” he asked.
Thapa argued that the NC should stop staking a claim for government leadership, thereby foiling Dahal´s strategy to keep deferring the polls.
“Dahal is the shrewdest politician in the country. He always has many alternatives at hand to float to the opposition parties. We can effectively foil him by accepting an alternative government leadership,” he further said.
During the CWC meeting held Sunday, CWC members including Mahesh Acharya and Dhan Raj Gurung argued that the NC should focus on implementing its roadmap even if that means sacrificing the chance for government leadership.
“The party´s decision to name the prime ministerial candidate has sent a positive message that the NC stands united. But the party should be open to an alternative leadership for the new government in return for free and fair elections by mid-May,” Gurung said.
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