After a meeting of top office bearers of the party on Thursday, UCPN-M Vice Chairman Narayankaji Shrestha said, “We denounce such allegation and appeal all not to believe such news reports.” [break]
The UCPN-M took up the issue after senior Madhesi leaders, including Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta, publicly said that the Maoists had planned to buy votes of Madhesi lawmakers.
Eleven lawmakers of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum voted for Maoist prime ministerial candidate Pushpa Kamal Dahal breaching the party´s whip to remain neutral during the election on Monday.
The meeting also decided to reject calls by some parties to withdraw candidacy of Dahal and NC leader Ram Chandra Poudel.
“The calls are irrelevant. Our party should be allowed to lead the new government,” said Shrestha. “NC and UML should support us.”
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress (NC) has expressed its concern over use of money by the UCPN-M in the prime minister´s election. The party raised the issue during its meeting with CPN-ML and CPN- Samyukta on Wednesday.
“Voting for the Maoist candidate despite the party´s decision to remain neutral is the result of financial dealing,” NC leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said after the meeting.
Chairman of CPN-ML CP Mainali said that the incident of floor crossing has invited anomalies in the parliament. “It is regrettable that party´s decision was violated by crossing the floor under the influence of money,” Mainali said.
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