KATHMANDU, APR 25 -
Beleaguered Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has given in to the demand of the main opposition UCPN (Maoist) to step down for formation of a national consensus government.

He has been facing mounting pressure to quit from his party CPN-UML as well as the main opposition. "If the political parties choose any consensus candidate other than Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, I am ready to quit," he said after meeting UML cadres injured in a Surkhet clash at TU Teaching Hospital here on Sunday. 

“Come up with a proposal for consensus on the peace process, constitution drafting and even the common candidate for new prime minister. I will not create any obstacle,”

he said.

He, however, did not elaborate who would be the common candidate. It is learnt that Maoist Chairman Dahal and Vice-Chairman Babu Ram Bhattarai, Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel and UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal have been intensifying secret consultations to hold power on a consensus basis, said a source. 

The prime minister is also under pressure because of the fast approaching deadline (May 28) to promulgate the constitution and the Maoists' announcement of urban protests to topple the government.  

Nepal is against picking Maoist Chairman Dahal as prime minister. “If Madhav Nepal cannot remain the prime minister, Dahal also cannot become the same,” he said. “He (Dahal) has been promoting the politics of anarchy. How can he head the government?” Nepal asked.

Posted on: 2010-04-26 07:09

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