JANAKPURDHAM: Acting Chairman of CPN (ML-Socialist) Yadubansa Jha has joined the CPN (UML) today, a relief to Nepal’s quasi-communist party.

Earlier, Jha was associated with the UML prior to joining the CPN (ML). In his up and down political career, Jha and other leaders formed the CPN (ML-Socialist).

UML leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal and General Secretary Ishwar Pokhrel welcomed Jha in the UML at a program in Janakpur.

During the program, the UML leaders said that Jha would be given a suitable post in the UML.

On the occasion, Jha said that UML was the best selection for him as the party was working for the cause of people than any others.

KATHMANUD: The emergency meeting of the central committee of the CPN (UML) called to take a final decision on the party’s stance on Chief Justice-led government is underway at the party central office.

The UML is expected to take a decision in favor of the CJ-led government though a section of the party leaders has outright opposed the idea.

UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal is in favor of the CJ-led government while general secretary Ishwar Pokhrel and KP Oli and some second rung leaders are against the CJ-led government.

However, the major four political parties were undecided on Thursday due to the UML’s proposal for seeking more time to hold discussions in the party meeting.

In order to engage the parties in the talks to expedite the process to find a solution to the current problem, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav hosted talks twice on Thursday and garnered their views and updates on consensus efforts.

However, the UML’s standing committee meeting failed to come up with any concrete view about whether it was for the CJ’s leadership of the election government. As a result, the party then entrusted the responsibility of taking the decision to its central committee meeting, which is underway from this morning.

KATHMANDU: Just a day after political parties agreed on formation of an election government under the leadership of sitting Chief Justice (CJ), the opposition CPN (UML) challenged such decision and said that a single person cannot head both the judiciary and executive.

Like before, the UML took such decision giving a surprise turn to the political unfolding. Analysts and political pundits often criticize the UML for always taking a dual standard in crucial issues.

The lead political parties including the UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress, CPN (UML) and Madhesi Morcha had agreed before President Dr Ram Baran Yadav to form an election government under the CJ to hold the CA election on May 29.

An emergency meeting of the top guns of the UML held today decided that the decision to appoint the CJ as the Prime Minister was against the principle of the separation of power.

On Monday, a section of legal practitioners close to CPN (UML) had issued a statement asking the President not to appoint the CJ as the new Prime Minister as it would jeopardize the principle of power separation.

After the meeting, UML general secretary Ishwar Pokhrel said that the party was not in favor of the CJ-led government as appointment of the CJ as the Prime Minister would drag the judiciary into controversy.