29 July 2010,
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood today conferred with CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal at the latter’s residence in Dallu where the two dwelt on the current political deadlock.
“Stalemate on the formation of new government, need of a national unity government and peace process and constitution-drafting process figured in our talks,” said Khanal.
He told Sood that the ongoing peace process would not conclude or the new constitution be drafted unless the major parties formed a unity government.
He said Sood hoped that the parliament would elect new PM on August 2.
US Ambassador to Nepal Scott H DeLisi also conferred with Khanal on Tuesday and urged him to explore ways to end the deadlock on the PM’s election.
Although the Unified CPN-Maoist is upbeat on getting its candidate, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, elected on August 2, other parties are skeptical about the outcome, as the four Madhes-based parties are undecided on who to support.
“It’s useless to support NC candidate Ramchandra Paudel as he cannot get elected without the UML support. And, we do not have unanimous views on supporting the Maoist candidate,” said a TMDP leader.
What if the parliament fails to elect the PM even during the third round of polls? Party sources said they would be compelled to sit together to find a way out to form a national unity government after August 2.
According to sources, the only way to do so is to fully implement the May 28 agreement on the peace process. It means the Maoists must be ready to implement remaining tasks of the peace process under an agreed calendar of operation for integration and rehabilitation of the combatants. If it happens, one of the PM’s candidates may announce withdrawal of his candidacy and major and Madhes-based parties may join the government which would look like a unity one even though it may be formed under a majority basis.
MJF’s threat
Kathmandu: Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum Chairman Upendra Yadav warned on Wednesday that his party would prefer to remain in opposition and start fresh agitation if the issues raised by the United Democratic Madhesi Front were not addressed by August 2. He said MJF would vote against both the candidates if the two parties did not address their demands in a credible way.
