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Prachanda asked to form government in Nepal

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Saturday formally asked Maoist Chairman Prachanda to take the initiative to form the next government.

In a meeting of leaders of three major parties — Maoists, Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (UML) — held at the Prime Minister’s official residence, Mr. Koirala said Mr. Prachanda, as the leader of the largest party in the Constituent Assembly(CA), should build a consensus among the major parties.

According to Peace and Reconstruction Minister Ram Chandra Poudel, Mr. Prachanda said he would come back to the parties on Sunday morning with his party’s proposal.

Just four days before the crucial Constituent Assembly meeting, the major parties are still at loggerheads over key issues of power sharing and constitutional amendment. The central secretariat meeting of the CPN (Maoist) on Saturday rejected the call by other parties to elect a ceremonial president and to amend the interim constitution to allow removing a prime minister by a simple majority as against the current provision of two-thirds majority.

Talking to journalists, after the meeting, Maoist leader C.P. Gajurel said: “Most of the leaders in our parties felt that both the power sharing at the top and constitution amendment were not necessary.”

There are now increasing doubts that the parties will be able to hammer out a power-sharing deal before the CA meeting slated for May 28.

Since all the major parties in the CA, except the Maoists, have called for amendment in the Constitution and sharing of the top posts of President, Vice President, Prime Minister and chair of the CA among the different parties, they are unlikely to accept the decision of the Maoist central secretariat.

Amidst this seeming political deadlock, international players have increased their engagement with the parties. Indian ambassador Rakesh Sood has already held several rounds of consultations with top party leaders in the last couple of days. India has played a crucial role during this difficult transition.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Evan A. Feigenbaum also arrived here on Saturday. He will be in the capital for the next three days and will hold consultations with the leaders of the top four parties.

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