Nepal’s ruling coalition partners confront each other over CJ-led government

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s ruling party UCPN Maoist’s proposal to form consensus government in the leadership of Chief Justice faced criticism from its own allies.

A meeting of the ruling allies in the capital, participated by all fringe ruling parties, ended inconclusively after majority of the fringe parties denied to support the bid which the Maoists have taken as a safe landing for the Baburam Bhattarai government.

During the meeting, which started with a briefing from UCPN Maoist Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal about the consensus reached between four major political parties, the fringe parties opposed the proposal claiming that such a move would be against multiparty democracy.

Some of the fringe party leaders in the meeting exited the meeting by issuing a note of decent against the proposal. Exiting the meeting, President of Dalit Janjati Party Bishwendra Paswan said that a CJ led government will jeopardize the judiciary.

He warned that they would protest against the four party decision on Saturday. Though Prachanda had informed that the CJ led government would be dissolved automatically after three months, participants denied to endorse the decision.

Adding to it, the Maoist supremo, who has been credited for rolling out this plan, said that the CJ could be termed as a lead figure deputed with the task to hold CA elections in May.

He claimed that a constitutional provision to oust the CJ from government if he fails to hold elections within the said date would be written, if an agreement is reached between parties in that direction.