After agreement on CJ-led govt, UML says it is not acceptable for us

KATHMANDU: Just a day after political parties agreed on formation of an election government under the leadership of sitting Chief Justice (CJ), the opposition CPN (UML) challenged such decision and said that a single person cannot head both the judiciary and executive.

Like before, the UML took such decision giving a surprise turn to the political unfolding. Analysts and political pundits often criticize the UML for always taking a dual standard in crucial issues.

The lead political parties including the UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress, CPN (UML) and Madhesi Morcha had agreed before President Dr Ram Baran Yadav to form an election government under the CJ to hold the CA election on May 29.

An emergency meeting of the top guns of the UML held today decided that the decision to appoint the CJ as the Prime Minister was against the principle of the separation of power.

On Monday, a section of legal practitioners close to CPN (UML) had issued a statement asking the President not to appoint the CJ as the new Prime Minister as it would jeopardize the principle of power separation.

After the meeting, UML general secretary Ishwar Pokhrel said that the party was not in favor of the CJ-led government as appointment of the CJ as the Prime Minister would drag the judiciary into controversy.