KATHMANDU, Jan 9: The UCPN (Maoist) has floated two alternatives for consensus as the deadline issued by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav to the parties to find a consensus prime ministerial candidate is expiring on Wednesday.
After consultations with party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, Vice-chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Narayankaji Shrestha on Tuesday held talks with President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala. [break]
"The talks ended inconclusively. I will also meet other leaders. But if we fail to resolve the ongoing deadlock, the country will face a disaster," said Shrestha.
Shrestha had held talks with Senior UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal on Sunday and UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, leader KP Sharma and Madhesi People´s Right Forum Chairman Upendra Yadav on Monday.
According to Shrestha, the UCPN (Maoist) has set two conditions for consensus. First, the parties themselves should be able to resolve the deadlock without intervention from outside forces. And second, the constitution should be promulgated by a Constituent Assembly. “
"We must be able to take our decisions ourselves. We can only accept goodwill gesture from our neighbo”s," said Shrestha. Shrestha also hinted that foreign forces are trying to fish in the troubled waters due to the weakness of our own leaders.
He further added the new constitution should be promulgated either through the freshly elected CA or the revived CA. He, however, said that reviving the erstwhile CA would be the best optio“. "We are also ready for fresh CA election. But fresh polls cannot be held in mid-April. The election should be scheduled for May 28," said Shrestha.
"If we fail to resolve the current deadlock, it is likely that Nepal could turn into a home for neo-colonial senior citize”s," added Shrestha. According to him, while the youths from the affluent families are in Western countries, those from the poor families are in Gulf countries. They would not return home unless we generate adequate employment opportunities, he said.
"Nepal will only be left with senior citizens," claimed Shrestha, "People will not forgive us if we fail to resolve the ongoing political and constitutional deadlock."
Talking about leadership of the new government, the major bone of contention among the political parties, Shrestha said the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML should join the current government for a short period to allow a dignified exit to Prime Minister Bhattarai and then form an election government led by NC President Koirala.
If NC and UML do not want to join the Bhattarai-led government, they should join a government led by another Maoist leader. The party has also kept the option of allowing an independent candidate to lead the election government open.
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