KATHMANDU: CPN (UML) Chairman Jhalanath Khanal is flying to the USA tonight for a 10-day long visit. He will fly in a regular flight of the Qatar Airways at 11:00 PM, a source close to Khanal told.

Khanal would inaugurate the first conference of the Overseas Nepali Forum. During this visit, the former Prime Minister is scheduled to meet the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York.

UML leader Bhim Rawal, Khanal’s personal assistant Ram Babu Adhikari will accompany the UML Chairman.

NAWALPARASI: CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal has said that preparations were afoot for the round table conference as demanded by the agitating parties including the CPN-Maoist.

Talking to media in Gaindakot here today, the UML Chairman said that all demands of the agitating parties–except government change and poll date deferral–would be fulfilled. 

The round table conference was being organized to meet the demands of the dissenting parties, he argued.

He also added that the major four political parties were not in favor of holding the election by keeping the CPN-Maoist and other parties out from the election process.

The UML Chairman Khanal, however, accused the UCPN (Maoist) of not being serious to meet the demands of the CPN-Maoist.

KATHMANDU: At a time when a faction in the party led by senior leader KP Sharma Oli is demanding to conduct the General Convention sooner than later, the CPN (UML) Chairman has rejected such convention prior to completion his five-year tenure.

Talking to journalist Rishi Dhamala for his famous TV talk show–The RD Show– UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said, “I am surprised why Oliji (KP Oli) is raising such issue outside the party instead of putting them in the party meeting.”

The program would be aired in Himalayan Television at 9:05 pm today.

Khanal also said that indiscipline has increased in the party and the issue of general convention raised by leader Oli outside the party forums would be tabled in the next meeting of the party’s central committee.

Saying that party’s statute has guaranteed provision of extending the party’s central committee tenure by one more year, Khanal also hinted at the term extension of the central committee till February 2015.

During the interview, Khanal has announced his candidacy in the party’s top post in the upcoming general convention.
On a separate context, the UML Chairman said the UML would stand victorious in the upcoming CA election.

“Prachandaji’s party would reach either third or fourth because he has not agenda, slogan and stance left,” Khanal who was the leader of third party in the erstwhile CA said.

ILAM: Despite the UML leaders are quitting the party one after another from across the country, CPN (UML) Chairman Jhalanath Khanal has said that the UML would be the single largest political party after the upcoming CA election.

Speaking at a program in his hometown this morning, Khanal said only UML can end the present crisis the country facing.

He said the seven province model of federalism based on multiple identities floated by the UML was not challenged by none and the same model would be the UML’s bottom line in federalism. 

Similarly, UML’s leader Subas Nembang said that the Chairman of the Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi should disassociate from the Supreme Court by tendering resignation from the post of Chief Justice.

KATHMANDU: Chairman of CPN UML Jhalnath Khanal has asserted that forging consensus among political parties on all outstanding issues for holding Constituent Assembly elections is not possible.

Khanal’s, who is also the Chairman of the High Level Steering Committee, statement comes at a time when some political parties including the CPN Maoist, have denied to take part in the purported CA elections in November later this year.

Speaking to journalists delegation led by Reporters Club Nepal’s president Rishi Dhamala at his own residence in the capital on Saturday morning, Khanal hinted at moving ahead with plans to hold CA elections even if the CPN Maoist and other dissenting parties don’t participate in the elections.

” Complete consensus in diverse multi-party settings, where every political party has different ideology, is not possible,” Khanal said adding that in such a context “understanding reached between political parties with majority of the vote bank should be taken as national consensus.”

Reiterating that CA elections was the only way out to end ongoing political transition in the nation, Khanal however expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s performance towards making preparations for the elections.
” The government seems to be skidding away from its sole objective of holding CA elections and we are holding talks with the Chairman of the Interim Election Council on Sunday,” Khanal said while expressing optimism that the meeting will help in fostering mutual understanding between political parties and the government. He however denied to comment on the government’s efforts to hold CA elections stating that it was too early to comment on the issue.

He informed that the government will announce the date for CA elections as soon as the four major political parties reach consensus on all outstanding issues and added that a date from the government could be expected within some days.

Khanal said that consensus and cooperation between four major parties is imperative for holding CA elections while accusing the UCPN Maoist and the Madheshi Morcha of time and again deviating from past understandings and agreements.

On the occasion Khanal ruled out the possibility of scraping the 11-point and 25-point understanding reached between political parties while stressing on the need to make the high level political mechanism more comprehensive.

On the occasion, Club’s president Rishi Dhamala elaborated on the initiative to call on political parties and stakeholders to forge consensus and hold CA elections while handing over similar memorandum to Khanal. He urged political parties to move ahead by bringing all political parties into confidence and hold CA elections in a conducive environment.

KATHMANDU: CPN UML Chairman Jhalnath Khanal has claimed that his party only has the credentials and capacity to tackle capitalist and radical forces in the nation.

Speaking at a program in the capital on Sunday, Khanal stated that erstwhile Constituent Assembly could not draft the constitution because the UCPN Maoist dominated the majority.

He warned that the upcoming CA won’t also be able to draft the constitution if the Maoists were favored by the public.

Khanal opined that only ensuring majority to the CPN UML in the forthcoming elections will ensure the drafting of the new constitution.

On the occasion, Khanal defended the formation of Chief Justice led government and informed that preparations to hold CA elections by June were afoot.

He said that the date for the CA elections will be announced as soon as the new officials at the Election Commission take over their responsibilities.
He called on his party cadres and members to launch election campaign across the nation and to garner support for the party’s candidates in the upcoming CA elections.

They have accused the government of closing all the doors to talks and dialogues taking of late  to  forge a political agreement on national consensus government, budget issues and new election and intended at imposing autocratic rule in the country.   The announcement of new elections and bringing the budget through ordinance has obstructed the way for a consensus, they said.

Speaking at a programme organized by the CPN (UML) on behalf of the opposition parties here Tuesday, they said intention of the ruling coalition partners of imposing totalitarianism in the country would never be fulfilled.

Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala said unilateral decision of the incumbent government regarding the budget and new elections to the Constituent Assembly were in the violation of rule of law and the politics of consensus. He claimed that the budget prepared neglecting all the moral responsibilities would close all ways to a consensus.

There was no alternative for political parties to negotiations, consensus and unity, he said while adding that the performance of the incumbent government has fueled the political crisis currently facing the country.

Similarly, CPN (UML) Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said the government’s decision to bring the budget through ordinance and announcement of new election showed its ‘madness’ and urged the government to come to a consensus on the agendas of national interest at the earliest.

The budget prepared ignoring the past talks and discussions and the announcement of new election would not be acceptable for the party, he said.

Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Pashupati Shamser JB Rana accused the ruling partners of not becoming serious towards forging consensus on the national agendas and intending to rule arbitrarily.

He added that the budget ordinance and new election announced by the government undermining the voices of the opposition parties would not be acceptable for his party.

Likewise, Chairman of Rastriya Janashakti Party Surya Bahadur Thapa accused the government of announcing new election violating democratic norms and values.

CPN (ML) general secretary CP Mainali  and NC leader Dr Minendra Rijal condemned the government for its decisions of bringing the budget and holding new election without consultations with other political parties. RSS