BIRGUNJ: Chairman of Tarai-Madhes Loktantrik Party Mahantha Thakur has hinted at poll alliance among the Tarai-based political parties in the upcoming November 19 CA poll.

Speaking at a meet the press here today, Thakur said that the Madhes-based parties have been discussing for an alternative for going to CA election with an election alliance if initiative for working unity was not successful.

However, many analysts doubt the poll unity of the Madhes-based parties due to their lust for power.

He pointed out the need of federalism which makes every people as part of social and economic transformation of Nepal, equal behavior to each language, religion and culture and all Nepalis.

Thakur said that the government and High-Level Political Committee should lend a hand for co-work with the dissenting parties including CPN-Maoist for their participation in the second CA election.

BIRGUNJ: Terai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) chairman Mahantha Thakur has said that federal constitution motivated by social diversity, inclusion and civil political culture was essential for sovereignty, dignity and identity of all the Nepalis.

Addressing the first national gathering of Terai Madhes Democratic Teachers’ Union here Saturday, he said federalism along with ethnic identity was the need of the hour and for this Constituent Assembly (CA) election should be held at any cost.

Our party is committed to making the upcoming CA election scheduled for November 19 successful, he said, underlining the need of ensuring the representation of all Nepali people in every social apparatus.

Federalism that recognize the identity of one and all, their culture, religion and language and ensure freedom of all citizens was essential, he said.

DHANGADHI: Chairman of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party, Mahantha Thakur, has said that an election to the Constituent Assembly (CA) would be held within mid-December at any cost.

At a news conference organised here today, Thakur said that the CA election is only the alternative for democracy, and for removing political uncertainty of the country.

He expressed the belief that CPN-Maoist will also participate in the CA election as talks are underway with the dissenting party.

Responding to a query, Thakur said that preparations are underway to go for election by forming an alliance of Madhesi Morcha but it has not materialized yet.

Saying that Madhesi Morcha will go for election united as far as possible, he said they will go for election by making an electoral front with those parties who address the demands of Madhesis if Madhesi Morcha does not go for election united.

PARSA: Chairman of Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Mahantha Thakur has hinted at political alliance among Madhes-centric parties in upcoming CA elections.

Speaking at a press meet in Birgunj today, the seniormost politician from the Madhes-based political parties said they were holding parleys to forge an alliance for the polls.

However, analysts and political pundits have been denying any such alliance amongst the Madhesi parties thanks for their power centred and splitting mentality.

He said discussion especially with Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik and Federal Sadbhawana Party and Coordinator of the Tarai Madhes Campaign, JP Gupta, is under way for unity.

He stressed that all should involve in making the CA election a success at any expense as there was no alternative to the election in the country.

Thakur urged not to harbour any doubt on CA polls within mid- December as the main task of the incumbent government was to hold the CA elections.

KATHMANDU: With increasing political tensions between parties, four alternative names have been prepared by UCPN Maoist supremo Puspa Kamal Dahal.

The names of these alternative candidates were prepared in line with his promise to roll out new solutions after completing the party’s general convention.

According to reliable sources within his party, Baburam Bhattarai is one of the two already proposed and first priority of the party. And this time around also Prachanda is expected to field for garnering consensus in his favour.

If the political parties agree on an independent candidate, then the power brokers have centred on Chief Justice Khila Raj Regmi’s name.

Thirdly if both of these alternatives fail, the Madhesh based parties have been been chosen to lead the government and from there Mahant Thakur has been chosen as a suitable alternative.

And if all these alternatives fail to appease the opposition, then the ruling coalition has decided to forward Nepal Parivar Dal’s Eknath Dhakal to lead the consensus government.

Sources within the UCPN Maoist confirmed that the the Prachanda will be forwarding these names during the all party meeting slated to kick off from Sunday.

Source claimed that the any of these candidates supported by the opposition will be picked up as the Prime Minister for the consensus government.

Though Dhakal and Regmi are new names in the proposal, the opposition parties have already denied to accept BRB and Thakur’s leadership for the consensus government.

Even picking Chief Justice for the job has been confronted by the opposition stating that it would lead to the failure of multiparty democracy.

As for Thakur, he has been facing hard times from within the Madheshi Morcha where coordinator Bijay Kumar Gachadar has been fielding for a long time now to get a promotion.

Deeper inside political parties have expressed fear that having a PM from the other side forced them loss in the upcoming elections. And with this underlying concept, both opposition and ruling parties don’t seem to be coming near to a resolution.

Now, Dhakal who seems to be a comparative new figure in politics, has gained some popularity from his recent speech at the mass meeting organised by the ruling allies recently.

Besides his appeasing rhetorics at the mass meeting, political parties might also consider his party as non-threat given the small size of the party itself.

Dhakal however denied of any preparations to lead the consensus government. When contacted he said that so far he has not been approached with the proposal.

News Commentary: Chairman of Unified Communist Party of Nepal- Maoist, Puspa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on Monday forwarded four alternative candidates from his and his coalition parties to lead the national consensus government.

The former rebel chief continued to dominate Nepal’s political milieu with these latest four options that in essence fail to come up with fresh materials at all. However, they are still the only options which a senior leader has brought after President Ram Baran Yadav called parties to form consensus government.

In the first option, Prachanda has stressed on forming the new consensus government under the present leadership- that is Baburam Bhattarai.

Secondly, Prachanda proposed to form the national consensus government in the leadership of his deputy Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

After candidate from his own party, Prachanda has proposed third and fourth alternatives from his party’s present alliance partner- the Madheshi morcha.

He has proposed Bijay Kumar Gachhadar as his party’s third alternative and Mahant Thakur as the fourth and ultimate candidate for leading the national consensus government.

Responding to media queries related to Prachanda’s commitment to provide government leadership to Nepali Congress as agreed in the five point agreement, he said that his party would mull on forming the government in NC’s leadership if the latter comes up with its concept on core issues of the constitution.

” We are not dismissive about their claims on consensus government leadership, but it is not justifiable for the Maoist if they don’t get constitution as well as government,” Prachanda said pointing to the lack of clear stance of Nepali Congress on drafting the constitution.

Responding to the recently escalated debate on the President’s call for forming national consensus government, Prachanda said that President’s statement sharply deviated from what they both had discussed to announce.

” I was expecting a political summon, but the President issued a legal one bound with legal codes,” Prachanda said responding to the nature of the president’s call adding that ” it was against the spirit of the interim constitution”.