While the top leaders of ruling parties, including Prime Minister Khanal, say that the resignation should come only after the parties arrive at an agreement on a national consensus government, the leaders of main opposition NC and Madhes-based parties maintain that the prime minister should step down immediately. [break]
The parties had reached a five-point agreement for extension of the CA term by three months in the parliamentary meeting Saturday night.
The differing interpretation of the parties with regard to the resignation of the prime minister is likely to affect all future negotiations on constitution drafting and peace process.
According to NC Vice-president and Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Paudel, the five-point agreement has clearly stated that the prime minister would step down to pave way for the formation of national consensus government.
“The country is in dire need of a national consensus government. The prime minister´s resignation should come at the earliest to pave way for the formation of a national consensus government,” he told media persons after the House meeting on Sunday morning.
The three major parties had also struck a three-point deal last year before extending the CA term by one year. But the differing stance of the NC and UML and main opposition Maoist on the resignation of then Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal had lead to a political deadlock that lasted for several months even after Nepal tendered his resignation.
NC Chief Whip Laxman Ghimire argued that the five-point deal unlike the three-point envisions resignation of the prime minister for the formation of a national consensus government. “The prime minister should immediately step down as per the agreement. The five-point agreement has already been made the property of parliament,” he said.
However, leaders of ruling parties beg to differ.
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said they have agreed that the prime minister would resign for the formation of a national consensus government. “This will come only after creation of an environment conducive to national consensus,” he said.
Dahal hinted that the prime minister will stay put till the next three months as parties have agreed to accomplish fundamental tasks of peace process and bring out a draft constitution by then.
Senior UML leaders who had earlier been demanding resignation of Prime Minister Khanal also seem to agree with Dahal.
Senior UML leader and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal told media persons after the House meeting that prime minister will tender resignation only after the creation of an environment conducive to formation of a national consensus government. “It may take long,” he said.
In his brief remarks to the media after the House meeting, Prime Minister Khanal said he would tender his resignation only after parties arrive at an agreement on an alternative to the current coalition. “And then there will be a national consensus government,” he said.
Khanal refused to comment when asked how long it would for him to resign. “Both the constitution drafting and peace process will conclude within the next three months,” he said.
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