KATHMANDU: Four major political parties that held talks today with President Dr Ram Baran Yadav also failed to hammer the deadlock and form an election government to ensure the CA elections by May.

The recently concluded meeting also made no headway regarding the CJ-led government. Earlier, the major political were expected to form the CJ-led election government. The leaders have agreed to meet at 3:00 pm tomorrow.

Like on Thursday, today’s meeting also postponed upon the request of the CPN (UML) leaders as they asked time with other parties’ leaders saying that the UML would take a final decision from its ongoing central committee meeting on Saturday.

UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Vice-chairmen Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Nepali Congress senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, Vice-President Ram Chandra Poudel, UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, leader KP Oli, general secretary Ishwor Pokhrel and Bijay Kumar Gachhadar and Mahendra Yadav from the Madhesi Morcha were present at the meeting in the President House.

Sources claimed that the size of the election government would not exceed 15. The non-political election government would include members of the civil society, independent figure and former top level administrators.

Such government would be given the responsibility of three months for conducting the CA elections.

The Nepali Congress (NC) leaders have agreed on the UCPN (Maoist) proposal to form such government while the UML leaders have expressed their reservations, making the progress little delayed.

Earlier today, the major political parties had agreed to form an election government under an apolitical leader, mostly probably under the Chief Justice.

Issuing a press statement, senior journalist Kanak Mani Dixit and some legal practitioners close to Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) have asked the President to stop such process saying that constitutional process would be damaged if the sitting Chief Justice was made the head of the executive.

The journalists and legal practitioners had held a meeting at Yalamaya Kendra in Patandhoka.

Recently elected President of Nepal Bar Association Hari Krishna Karki, Vice-president Tikaram Bhattarai and former President Shambhu Thapa and Bhimarjun Acharya have issued such statement asking the President not to appoint CJ Regmi the new Prime Minister.

Recently elected NBA President Karki, Vice-president Bhattarai and former President Thapa are known as UML supporters while Thapa was UML’s candidate in the CA election from Udayapur district.

They have also said that leadership of the judiciary and executive should not be given to a single person as per the theory of power devolution as well.

Advocate Sher Bahadur KC said that the President would be urged not to accept such proposal as it would weaken the judiciary and take initiative for the formation of the new government under the political leadership.

KATHMANDU: Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Anup Raj Sharma has claimed that neither sitting CJ nor former CJs can become the Prime Minister just by political consensus or President’s move to clear the hindrances of the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2063 B.S.

In an interview with Reporters Club Chairman Rishi Dhamala for Badi Bahas, a popular TV talk program, the former CJ said that no other option, except revival of the CA, could amend the constitution for the Prime Minister’s appointment.

He said that the President’s move to clear the hindrances would only activate the passive article of the constitution and constitution amendment was not likely only on the political consensus, Sharma added.

He also said that doubts are rife that whether or not the judiciary would be influenced after the head of the judiciary becomes the top of the executive power and added that this option is not preferred even in Bangladesh.

Sharma said, “Political leadership is the best and appropriate option for leading the top executive post. Chief Justice-led government cannot be formed under present circumstances. Constitution should be amended and political consensus was also needed for this.”

The former CJ further said that amendment to the constitution at present was also not possible. “For this, the CA should be revived and it could expire automatically after amending the constitution.”

CPN (UML) secretary Shankar Pokhrel said that government leadership under the incumbent chief justice is not acceptable in a democracy from the perspective of power balance as well. He said the opposition parties would not take the Maoists’ proposal so seriously.

Likewise, Nepali Congress leader Dr Minendra Rijal said the party would not sit for talks for CJ-led election government. The NC is adamant in an NC-led government under its President Sushil Koirala, he said.

NEPALGUNJ: Opposition CPN (UML)’s senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal on Saturday said that current Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has said the UCPN (Maoist) is solely responsible for current political and constitutional mess in the country.

Talking to journalists here, the former Prime Minister, who has been making stern comments against the ruling Maoists lately, also said termed the current government as an unconstitutional one. He said, “Bhattarai-led government is unconstitutional and it has not power to holding the CA election.”

He said the peaceful anti-government demonstrations launched across the country would toppled the Bhattarai-led government soon and an election government would be formed to hold the CA elections.

SOLUKHUMBU: Federal Socialist Party Chairman Ashok Rai has that he was ready to be the Prime Minister if need be.

“I am ready to be the new prime minister if need be to give an outlet to the country’s political and constitutional crises.”

Rai said that CA revival was the best mantra to resolve the present political stalemate though holding fresh election was also a better option if all parties were ready for that.

Speaking at an interaction program organized by Reporters’ Club Nepal Solukhumbu chapter program, Rai said new prime minister should be selected from the revived house to give the constitutional wayout to the country.

He also claimed that the major three political parties were not capable of ending the ongoing deadlock. “Our party is ready to end the constitutional and political stalemate,” Rai claimed.

Rai also ruled out the possibility of formation of an NC-led government under its President Sushil Koirala.

KATHMANDU: The UCPN (Maoist) has reiterated its stance of forming a national unity government under the leadership of an independent figure.

But, the independent figure should an active participant of the People’s Movement-II with no political affiliation but accepting the agendas of republic, federalism, secularism and other progressive issues, the UCPN (Maoist) floated the riders.

 UCPN (Maoist) spokesperson Agni Sapkota today said, “The UCPN (Maoist) is ready to form an election government under the leadership of an independent figure. The opposition parties also should be ready for same.”

At a spokesperson-media meeting organized at the party’s central office, Paris Danda, Sapkota said CA election was possible by mid-June if the opposition parties were ready for political consensus.

He also blamed the opposition parties of trying to disturb the Maoists’ upcoming general convention. “This has shown their real face of democracy,” he said.