UML Secy says party not in PM race

Kathmandu, February Rudra Bahadur Karki: CPN UML Secretary Bishnu Poudel has clarified that his party is still looking forward to form the new government in the leadership of Nepali Congress (NC) President Shusil Koirala.

He clarified that his party won’t participate in the Prime Ministerial candidacy race, while expressing confidence that the “New Prime Minister will be elected within the 27 Magh deadline,”while speaking at an interaction program organized by Reporters’ Club Nepal Thursday.

He stressed that his party is still on the stand of NC leading government. He said, “We want to the form new government under the leadership of Nepali Congress. But NC should come up with consensus proposal including power sharing.”

Paudel said that the party will remain in opposition, if NC failed to come up with a mutually agreeable consensus proposal on electing new President and Vice President, minimum common programme of the government, on tenure of the new government, role of participating political parties in drafting the new constitution and the status to be provided to parties participating in the government, while speaking at  the program presided by the Reporters’ Club Nepal President Rishi Dhamala.

He said the government formation of the new government within the slated time frame depended on NC and UML. While informing that his party has already formed a team to negotiate on issues surrounding government formation, he accused NC of lacking leadership qualities. “Nepali Congress’s leaders don’t have the commanding qualities necessary for taking decisions on issues that arise during negotiations.” However, Paudel maintained that negotiations with NC have been moving in positive direction.

Commenting on the issue of electing new President and Vice President, Poudel said that the issue is genuine considering the fact that the CA that elected has been changed. He said that continuation of the incumbent President and Vice President would be against the democracy and periodical elections.

He said that periodical election is the heart of the democracy and claimed that retaining the President and VP would be against democratic norms. “ Our party had played crucial role while electing President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav. We don’t have any objections towards his personality and the role played by him so far. We just want to continue working along democratic principles.”