E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, JUL 03 - With the three major parties intensifying parleys for the formation of the next government, Nepali Congress (NC) has said its Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel will lead the government. NC Acting-President Sushil Koirala on Friday said the next consensus government should be formed under its leadership and Poudel should lead the government.

“The Maoists and the UML have held the reins but failed to take the peace process ahead. Now, it is the NC’s turn to lead the government,” said Koirala at Tribhuwan International Airport after his arrival from the United States. “We will try to form a national consensus government.” Koirala returned to Nepal cutting short his US visit after Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal’s resignation.

Amid controversy over selection of the party’s candidate for the post of prime minister, Koirala stood firmly in favour of Parliamentary Party leader Poudel. “Nepali Congress is a democratic party and it will move according to provisions mentioned in the party statue. As per the party statute and international practices, the parliamentary party leader should lead the government,” added Koirala. He claimed there was no difference in the party about picking the candidate for  prime minister. Contrary to his statement, some NC leaders close to Deuba said the party is yet to take a decision over the prime ministerial candidate.  “Our party is yet to take a decision on the issue. The Parliamentary Board will take its own decision only after confirmation that NC gets a chance to lead the government,” NC Vice-President Gopal Man Shrestha told the Post.

He termed Koirala’s statement a personal opinion. The NC is divided over the selection of the candidate for prime minister. The party establishment wants to field Poudel as next prime minister while another faction is in favour of Deuba saying that the candidate should be selected through the Parliamentary Board and not Parliamentary Party.

With the resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, the main opposition UCPN (Maoist) and CPN-UML have already staked claimed to leadership in the new government and internal talks are on. Koirala ruled out the possibility of a Maoist-led government unless the party implements the first point mentioned in the three-point deal signed on May 28. “A Maoist-led government will not be acceptable until it returns confiscated property, dismantle the para-military Young Communist League and commits to peace and constitution drafting,” said Koirala.

Posted on: 2010-07-03 08:39

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