KATHMANDU, April 25: Main opposition party Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Paudel has said that Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has cunning and deceptive personality.

Talking to Reporters’ Club Nepal President Rishi Dhamala in a television talk show Janata Janna Chahanchan, he said, “The prime minister accused the Nepali Congress of joining hands with reactionary forces. He is blaming the opposition in order to cover his mistakes.”

“PM Oli is as cunning as a fox. He is very clever. But he cannot hide his mistakes,” he added.

“The prime minister is trying to put democracy into danger. But Nepali Congress will not remain silent,” he added.

He also said that the internal disputes within the Nepali Congress will be resolved soon.

POKHARA: Nepali Congress (NC) Vice President Ram Chandra Paudel said that the proposed Constituent Assembly election scheduled for November 19 even if dissenting political parties like the CPN Maoist did not participate in it.
Speaking at a press conference organised by the Press Union Kaski Chapter in Pokhara on Sunday, leader Paudel said that his party is willing to go for the elections by taking all dissenting parties into confidence and resolving differences through talks.
“CA election will happen on the scheduled calendar, no force can stop the election. If anyone tried to disrupt the election then the people will chase them away,” he said.

During the programme, Paudel said that the new CA will promulgate the much desired constitution within a year.

The NC leader said that his party will form the Election Booth Security Committee to conduct the election in free, fair and peaceful manner at a time when the poll-opposing parties are aiming to foil the election.

Moreover, he said that his party will deploy cadres in each booth and retaliate the CPN-Maoist if the latter tried to disrupt the election.

DAILEKH: Nepali Congress second in command Ram Chandra Poudel, who hinted at the polls alliance with the CPN-UML for the upcoming CA elections, has said that the UML is the most opportunist political party in the country and forging the polls alliance with the semi-communist would be a suicidal case to the NC.

Poudel was speaking at a cadres meet program at Rakam of Dailekh on Thursday. But, he said options were open to forge the polls alliance with other democratic political. Poudel also termed the UML as the political party sans political thoughts and bases.

“There is no meaning of poll alliance with the opportunist political force. The NC will get a clear majority in its own strength and we will draft a democratic constitution,” Poudel fumed against the UML.

After addressing the program, Poudel has left for Kalikot while the top leaders of the CPN (UML) are in Dailekh today to address a mass meeting at the district headquarters, Dullu.

BIRGUNJ: Nepali Congress Vice President Ram Chandra Paudel has called on democratic parties for not supporting the UCPN-Maoist on federalism model.

Speaking at a program organized by Nepal Press Union on Saturday, Paudel warned that forming an alliance with the UCPN Maoist in the upcoming CA elections by the democratic parties would be unfortunate for the nations.
He accused the the UCPN Maoist was intending to impose a president led centralized model for federalism and stated that such a model cannot meet the aspirations of Nepalese people.

Paudel said that forces whose major agenda has been federalism should not support the Maoist, while hinting to the recent talks between the Maoist and the Madhesh based parties.
He also accused the UCPN Maoist of false hopes to the Madhesh and Ethnic based parties to garner a two-third majority in the CA polls.

The UCPN (Maoist) would not be ready for the election until the situation was favourable to it, Poudel said at a press meet in Dadeldhura today.

Stating that the dictatorial character of the ruling coalition has made a mockery of the democracy, the NC vice president said that the UCPN (Maoist) had treated the post of the prime minister as a joke.

He said for the ruling coalition to talk of waging a movement is but a threatening to the people, adding that the only objective of the protest movement the opposition parties have announced was to press for holding the constituent assembly election.

Nepal’s  President’s recent call to form national consensus government within seven days have pushed Nepal’s led politician into the race. This has also intensified exchanges between leaders and New Delhi.

Prachanda from the ruling Maoist, Sushil Koirala and Ram Chandra Paudel from Nepali Congress, K P Oli from CPN UML, Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ from CPN Maoist, and Bijay Kumar Gachhadar from the ruling Madheshi Morcha have escalated inter and intra party lobbying for the post.

Though UCPN Maoist has officially slammed the President’s call to form consensus government, Party chairman Prachanda seems to be interested in the run. He has lauded the President’s call and along with that his close aide in the party Krishna Mahara has publicly lauded the call.

Though the official rejection of the decision by the Maoist remains an enigma, sources in the know how have claimed that the President has advised Prachando to engage in lobbying to support his candidacy for leading the consensus government. And the source claim that it was the reason for which Prachanda appreciated the President’s call and it was the same reason for which his deputy and incumbent Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai forced the party leadership to officially protest the President’s decision.

Sources well aware of the diplomatic exchanges, claim that Prachanda has even been in discussion with the Indian establishment to support his PM candidacy.

Sensing trouble from Prachanda’s softer stance with the President, Bhattarai faction within the party have warned to launch stern agitation within and outside the party for remaining in power. Bhattarai’s close aide Devendra Paudel even termed the President’s call as an attempt to impose coup.

In Nepali Congress, Sher Bahadur Deuba has already publicly announced his withdrawal from the race and it has left Koirala and Paudel in the race. Paudel is loud and clear on his candidacy for the post which he claims is legitimate as he has been the parliamentary party leader of his party in the erstwhile legislative parliament and as he had fought Bhattarai in the earlier race for the same post.

However, Koirala’s recent desire to head the government which is now intensely fueled by his aides, seems to officially endorse Koirala for the post. The upcoming NC’s central committee meeting might endorse Koirala’s candidacy for the post as Deuba has already exited the queue and Paudel does not have sufficient majority in the committee to back him. This might leave Paudel high and dry once again.

Though UML Chairman Jhalnath Khanal has publicly requested Koirala for heading the consensus government, his deputy K P Oli has been exercising muscles for the post. While receiving treatment in New Delhi recently, Oli had also lobbied for this opportunity with the Indian establishment. However as the party is yet to take official decision on the issue, Oli’s chances are yet slim if he fails to win his Chairman’s support for the bid.

And along with these big wigs, the CPN Maoist has also joined the race with the motto of new and revolutionary leadership. They have forwarded party general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa as their candidate for the race. Party secretary Dev Gurung has publicly announced the party’s bid while eulogizing Thapa’s capacity for the leadership.

In the madhesh based party camp, with Mahant Thakur denying the post, Gachhadar has brushed up his collar for the post. Though Prachanda himself had proposed Thakur to join the race, the latter had denied it. This had left the ground solely to Gachhadar. Gachhadar has already forwarded his candidacy to the President and sources claimed that he has intensified lobbying with the Indian establishment too.

Another of the candidate that has not shown willingness for the limelight is Surya Bahadur Thapa. Though India has soft side for Thapa, Thapa himself has not shown any signs of joining the race. So his candidacy still remains in the grey region. Lets see if he gives any color to it in the remaining days. After all, anything can happen in Nepal’s troubled political sphere.

Whoever might succced in this race, one thing is sure, Bhattarai’s day at Baluwatar seem to be ending. This has become more sure now as the Indian establishment has shown willingness to end status quo in Nepal by removing Bhattarai and installing a new government. However, sources claim that though Indian establishment is against Bhattarai, its intelligence (RAW) has shown unwillingness to remove Bhattarai. This condition might also change in the days ahead as RAW has also recently got a new leader and this indicates a new stance on Bhattarai government too.

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

KATHMANDU: Chief of the Mission of the European Union to Nepal, India, and Bhutan, Maria Castillo Fernandez held talks with Nepali Congress Vice President Ramchandra Paudel at the latter’s residence at Bohoratar in the capital, this morning.

They discussed Nepal’s latest political development and the talks being held between parties for an outlet.

Expressing happiness over the progress in peace process, Maria showed concern how the crisis of Constituent Assembly (CA) election, constitution writing and political crisis will be resolved, said Poudel.

In the meeting, Poudel said they had prioritized talks and dialogue for resolving whatever stalemate arises in the country. Also present on the occasion was European Union Ambassador to Nepal, Alexander Spachis. RSS

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel has opined the reinstatement of the Constituent Assembly (CA) would be the best alternative to promulgating the new constitution Assembly if a consensus is forged on all the disputed issues in the constitution-drafting.

Taking part in a face-to-face programme organised by the Reporters’ Club at his residence at Boharatar today, Poudel said that he was committed to giving a way out to the nation from existing political and constitutional crisis.

He said that he was ready to go for any alternatives- whether the reinstatement of the CA or holding the fresh election- to give an outlet to the country from the existing crisis.

He urged the political parties to think about the best solution to the present crisis rather than protesting the proposal of CA revival and advocating for the fresh election in a one-sided manner.

Claiming that new elections could not be held under the leadership of the incumbent government, he warned that Dr Baburam Bhattarai would be compelled to quit the post and come to a consensus through protests if he declined to step down in time.

It may be noted that, however, NC President Sushil Koirala was stating that he was not in line of the proposal of reviving the CA.

Poudel further claimed that UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s proposal to promulgate the new constitution incorporating the agreed issues was the concept of the Nepali Congress and it was presented before the political parties before May 27. “Now, the opposition parties will take ahead protests and talks simultaneously to break the political and deadlock in the country”, he said. RSS