Ready to join CA, govt if proper representation ensured: Gajurel

Reporters Nepal

Publish date : 26 November, 2013

Kathmandu: CPN-Maoist vice-chairman CP Gajurel has said that his party was ready to join the government and Constituent Assembly (CA) provided that the interim constitution was amended to ensure proper representation of his party.
Speaking at a face-to-face interaction programme organised by Reporters Club Nepal today, he ruled out joining the CA through the appointment of 26 seats through the cabinet.
Claiming that it was not possible for them to join the CA through existing provision, he urged the political parties to be flexible on amending the interim constitution.
During the programme held under the presidency of the Club’s president Rishi Dhamala, Gajurel also said that the discussions among the parties were underway on what status and position should his party be given after the CA polls.
“We are ready to play a role in drafting the constitution joining the CA if the political parties agree on it,” Gajurel said.
Asked by the journalists about the number of seats that the CPN-Maoist would seek in the CA, he said that the discussions on this regard were going on. He however, hinted that they would demand equal number of seats equal to those of all parties who won the election, saying that the country has polarised on two sides- one participating polls and another boycotting it.
He said that only seeking suggestions from his party for the constitution drafting without taking them to the CA would be unacceptable. We will promulgate the constitution through the street protest if our party will be kept outside the CA, he warned.
On a separate context, Gajurel also said that unity with the UCPN (Maoist) was impossible now. “The discussions for working alliance with the UCPN (Maoist) were held when the UCPN (Maoist) first come to us saying that there was vote rigging to defeat them and they would not join the upcoming CA. However, they have now decided to hold the victory rally with a U-turn of 180 degree. Even the working alliance is impossible now, let alone a party unity. ”