President Dr Ram Baran Yadav on December 18 had given the five-day deadline to name a consensus candidate for prime minister and form a council of ministers in accordance with Article 38 (1) of the Interim Constitution. [break]
On November 23, the President had given time a week-long deadline for the first for the parties for the formation of the unity government and then extended the deadline for altogether four times after the major political parties failed to accomplish the task.
But, despite the President´s repeated deadlines for the national unity government and political parties´ rounds of talks, formation of the national unity government is not likely due to leaders´ self-will.
The intra-party conflicts and lack of consensus among the parties has further widened the rift and increased confusion.
The rift between UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ´Prachanda´ and Prime Minister and Maoist Vice-Chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai
has gripped the main ruling party UCPN (Maoist), making the environment for consensus further elusive.
Though the CPN (UML) has decided to give the government leadership to the Nepali Congress, this is not likely as the Madhes-centric parties and ruling UCPN (Maoist) have expressed their reluctance to that end.
Analysts say that the country would plunge into a serious crisis as the parties fail to forge a consensus in the government formation and other key issues including appointments in the constitutional bodies.
Political analyst Shyam Shrestha said that consensus among the political parties is not sure in present situation despite the leaders´ commitments. He suggested that the parties should search for consensus in the disputed issues of the constitution which he says is the major issue of present political deadlock.
He said the President has no option but to extend the deadline. However, the process in itself is wrong.Similarly, senior journalist Purushottam Dahal expressed concern, saying that the chances of consensus were slim despite the leaders repeated commitments for national consensus.
He suggested that both the President and Prime Minister should take initiative for consensus as both are the legal institutions in the present transitional period.
Related story
Deadline to submit claims for the post CM in Province 1 expirin...
