Maoist to propose Prachanda as new PM after party’s jamboree

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister’s chief political adviser and UCPN (Maoist) leader Devendra Poudel has said that the UCPN (Maoist) and present coalition partners would forward Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ as the new prime minister after the party’s general convention.

On Monday, the Maoist Chairman had also expressed his willingness to lead the new government at a program in Gorkha.
Speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club in the capital, leader Poudel said Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai proposed Prachanda as the new prime minister yesterday after the discussions by the coalition parties.

Club’s Chairman Rishi Dhamala presided over the talk program.

“Prachanda can be next prime minister as the coalition parties have already decided to seek alternative to the incumbent government from within the coalition partners,” Poudel a trusted-lieutenant of Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai said. There are slim chances of holding fresh CA elections by June if the opponent political parties join the current government but otherwise it is not possible despite political parties so wish, Poudel said.

“All coalition partners are ready to handover the government leadership to the NC if it joins the Bhattarai-led government to ensure timely elections. But, the prime minister will not call it quits at any cost if NC does not join the current government,” he said.

Poudel was of the opinion that this government can be changed only from the political consensus or next government elected from the next CA as formation of the government is full constitutional and valid.

Likewise, spokesperson of Federal Democratic Republican Alliance Prem Bahadur Singh seconded Poduel’s statement and said the FDRA can accept Prachanda’s leadership. He also said that there was no option but to reinstate the CA even for only 24 hours to go for fresh elections by clearing legal hassles.

Nepali Congress (NC) spokesperson Dilendra Prasad Badu said an NC-led election government under party President Sushil Koirala should be formed to end the deadlock. He added that Prachanda’s conspiracy to spot others from leading the government forced the opposition parties to take to the streets against the coalition parties.

He said, “First we have to implement the agreements made so far. New options one after another will not end the deadlock. We all will sink if deadlock continued for long.”

He also said that elections should be held based on consensus as the current government has not prepared ground for holding the elections despite its rhetoric.

Likewise, CPN (UML) secretary Yubraj Gyawali said the opposition parties would not fall in Prachanda’s trap saying that the latter is hell-bent to become the new prime minister.

He said the opposition parties were forced to take to the streets as the UCPN (Maoist) continued the politics of prohibition.

Saying that the Maoist leaders were trying to seize the state power, leader Gyawali claimed the Maoist leaders’ dream of capturing the state power is not going to fulfil that they failed even in the decade-long insurgency.