The Maoists said so during their meeting with the small political parties held at Singha Durbar, Sunday afternoon. [break]
“We only stated that it could be an option if the NC doesn´t come to a compromise for the formation of a consensus government which is the demand of the hour. But we will push for a consensus government as far as possible,” said Maoist Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha. Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal was also present during the meeting.
Leaders of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), Nepal Sabhawana Party-Anandidevi, Janata Dal, Samajbadi Party and Janamukti Party were present during the meeting.
Sunil Prajapati of NWPP said the Maoists informed them that a coalition of the UCPN-M and UML could be formed in case the NC doesn´t subscribe to the idea of a national government.
Shrestha said that the meeting was held to thank the small parties for their support to the Maoists during the seven rounds of prime ministerial voting held earlier. It is the first time that the Maoists met the small parties after they signed a three-point deal with CPN-UML on Friday and decided to withdraw their candidacy from the prime ministerial race.
The House has failed to elect a new prime minister even after seven rounds of voting as the UML and the Madhes-based parties opted to stay neutral.
NC parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel and Maoist leader Dahal are currently in the prime ministerial race. The Maoists´ decision to withdraw Dahal´s candidacy for prime minister will assert moral pressure on Poudel to do the same.
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