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Nepal parties inch closer to form government

KATHMANDU: The big four Nepal political parties — the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Nepali Congress, Communist Part of Nepal (UML), and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum — on Monday agreed to form a government of national consensus.

Earlier, the NC, MJF, and UML disapproved the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) presented by the Maoists to form the government. They had blamed the Maoists for not consulting them to draft the 50-point CMP. However, leaders of the four parties said Monday’s meeting was remarkable because they agreed to form a national government. Speaking to reporters, Maoist spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara said: “There was one voice in the meeting to form a national government.” Regarding the CMP, he said: “We will bring a ‘common’ programme for all.”

The President had given the Maoists one week’s time to form the government, and Monday was the deadline. About the parties’ role in the new government, CPN (UML) general secretary Jhalanath Khanal said “major parties” would be part of the government. Earlier, the NC and MJF had said they would stay in the opposition. Meanwhile, NC leader Ram Chandra Paudel said there are still some issues to be dealt with to form the government.

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