We will also participate in the Koirala led government: Gajurel

KATHMANDU: UCPN-Maoist Leader Haribol Gajurel has said that his party will support the upcoming government if Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala leads it. “Our party will support the new government formed in NC’s leadership even if we stay in opposition” he said while speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal in the Capital on Saturday.

He said that Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala should lead the government stating that Koirala is an honest, loyal and fair leader, while speaking at the program presided by the Club’s President Rishi Dhamala.

Backing his argument, Gajurel said that as President of the largest party in the parliament, Koirala should lead the proposed consensus government. He claimed that Koirala has capabilities to bring all parties in confidence to form a consensus government in his leadership.

However, Gajurel maintained that Nepali Congress should decide its prime ministerial candidate and said that his party will not engage in power game and will play constructive role by upholding to the ‘consensus principles’ for drafting the constitution within a year.

While stating that his party will remain in opposition, Gajurel added that his party could participate in the consensus government if premise for drafting the constitution are ensured.

Speaking at the same program, Nepali Congress (NC) leader Aananda Prasad Dhungana opined that Shushil Koiala is party’s consensual prime ministerial candidate for the consensus government. “ We won the CA election in Shushil Koirala’s leadership and he is our party’s’ single prime ministerial candidate.” He ruled out existence of any misunderstanding and disputes within the party on Koirala’s claim for the premiership.

He said that Koirala has been supported by senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and party’s Vice-President Ram Chandra Poudel. He urged CPN UML and UCPN Maoist to participate in consensus government.

On a different note, Dhungana said that President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav should summon the first meeting of the new Constituent Assembly (CA).

CPN-UML Leader Dr. Banshidhar Mishra opined that as the largest party in the CA, Nepali Congress should lead the upcoming government. He said, “Nepali Congress should come up with a clear modality of consensus government,” adding that his party will participate in the Congress led government if it brings clear plans for constitution writing and agreeable form of power sharing.

Mishra insisted that New President should be selected on the basis of mandate given to the CA. He appreciated the positive role played by President Ram Baran Yadav, while stressing on the need to reset the political setup as per the new CA mandate and said that the process is also a part of the constitution drafting.  Mishra said that UCPN-Maoist should be participating in the upcoming government for the promulgation of Constitution within one year.