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Worried prez seeks an end to impasse
KATHMANDU, AUG 28 -
Against the backdrop of the House’s failure to elect a prime minister for the fifth time, President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav on Saturday urged the heads of the three major political parties and four Madhes-based parties to end the protracted stalemate without delay.
The president’s suggestion comes in the wake of the widening rift among party leaders. The president held consultations with Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, NC Acting-President Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chief Jhala Nath Khanal and leaders of the Madhes-based parties at his residence, Sheetal Niwas.
“The president expressed concern over the delay in electing a new prime minister and statute writing and the looming political and financial crisis,” said Rajendra Dahal, the president’s press advisor.
According to Dahal, the president “humbly requested” the parties to end the political deadlock and complete the twin goals of statue writing and completion of the peace process within the extended deadline.
Almost three months have gone by since the Constituent Assembly tenure was extended, while caretaker prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is in place for the past two months.
In the meeting, Dr. Yadav asked leaders to explain why they failed to come up with a common stance on electing a new prime minister.
After Prime Minister Nepal’s resignation, Maoist Chairman Dahal and NC Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel have struggled to garner majority votes in the PM election, while two important voting blocs (UML and Madhesi parties) have abstained from voting.
The leaders blamed each other in their meeting with the president as well. “They (Maoist and NC leaders) requested us to vote to elect a new prime minister, but we asked them to begin a new course by withdrawing their candidacy,” Khanal said.
Koirala said the leaders clarified their positions on the deadlock, while no decision was taken in the meeting.
Posted on: 2010-08-29 08:21
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