Lead parties reveal stance on electoral, federal system and madesh states

KATHMANDU: UCPN-Maoist has stressed on adopting a directly elected presidential system in the new constitution for stability. Party spokesperson Agni Sapkota said so while speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club in the Capital on Thursday.

He added that such a system is crucial for stability and development of the nation and argued that both parliamentary as well as directly elected prime ministerial systems, as proposed by Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML respectively, have already failed.

According to Sapkota, UCPN-Maoist will table either 10 or 14 provincial federal system in its election manifesto likely to be released on Saturday. “Discussions to that front are still underway,” he said.

Arguing that the demand of Madhesi parties to allocate entire Tarai region as a single province is inappropriate, Sapkota revealed that the UCPN-Maoist would come up with a proposal lobbying for two provinces in Tarai.

In a different context, Sapkota claimed that the 33-party alliance led by CPN-Maoist are regretting to have decided to boycott the upcoming CA polls. “The alliance cannot thwart elections under any circumstances,” he said.

Meanwhile, NC Central Working Committee member Gagan Thapa clarified that his party would not accept a directly elected presidential system and Prime Minister, both these systems would invite political catastrophe in the country. The NC will include parliamentary PM, ceremonial president and mixed election system in their manifesto, he said.

Thapa informed that his party would underline seven provincial federal system in its manifesto. According to Thapa, alternative to seven provincial federal system, as identified as the NC, would be 13 provinces.

CPN-UML leader Bhim Rawal, similarly, informed that his party has decided to table the concept of directly elected PM and constitutional president for the political stability and development of the country.

He went on to say that the CPN-UML is for the seven provinces, adding that his party would oppose ethnicity based division of states and the idea of one Madhesh one province.