KATHMANDU: Lead political parties – Nepali Congress, CPN UML and the UCPN Maoist- have failed to corner differences on major ongoing political contentions- HLPC continuation, formation of commission to probe CA elections.

A joint meeting of senior leaders from all the three parties on Saturday failed to reach consensus on retaining or dissolving the High Level Political Mechanism (HLPC).

While UCPN Maoist and Nepali Congress stressed on its continuation with a renewed mandate, the CPN UML leaders denied to retain it. NC and UCPN Maoist stressed that the HLPC should be in function untill the new CA comes into function and paves way for the formation of a new government.

Parties remained apart on the UCPN Maoist demands to probe the CA elections through the formation of an independent commission.

While NC and UML leaders stressed on forming a parliamentary panel, after the CA is assembled, to probe the alleged poll rigging, the UCPN Maoist remained adamant on investigating the issue through a high level commission.

UML leader Raghujee Panta said that his party and NC told the meeting that the November 19 polls could not be questioned by any commission.

However the UCPN Maoist leaders warned to break away from consensus politics, if their demand for commission was not accepted by NC and CPN UML.
However, all parties agreed to own already agreed upon issues of the new constitution by the erstwhile CA.

Senior leaders of these political parties are scheduled to hold one-to-one meeting on Sunday to resolve contentions.

KATHMANDU: Chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala held a meeting at the latter’s residence at Maharajgunj today.

During the meeting, the two leaders discussed ways of ending the current political deadlock and constituting the government of national consensus.

They held discussions on either issuing a constitution incorporating the points on which the parties had agreed in the past through the reinstatement of the Constituent Assembly or going for fresh election.

The two leaders are also learnt to have held serious talks on seeking consensus for a political way out before the Tihar festival alone, saying the rift between the political parties was increasing with the deepening political crisis.

UCPN (Maoist) chairman Dahal is learnt to have held discussions with the NC president with the proposal incorporating reinstatement of the Parliament if possible and going for fresh elections if that was not feasible.

In his reaction to Dahal’s proposal to this effect, NC president Koirala said, “There is no credible basis in Chairman Dahal’s proposal so there is no situation to believe in it.” He added that since Chairman Dahal did not walk the talk and as they have been betrayed time and again, there was no basis in believing in Dahal’s latst proposal.

Koirala reiterated that it was the stated view of the Nepali Congress that the party should go for fresh election rather than the revival of the Constituent Assembly. “The reinstatement of the Constituent Assembly or the Parliament is not at all acceptable to the Nepali Congress,” he said.

“To go for elections, it is necessary that this government should be dissolved and a new consensus government formed in its place,” Koirala told media persons after the talks with the UCPN (Maoist) chairman.

Likewise, the UCPN (Maoist) chairman said that a new constitution could be issued through the reinstatement of the CA by incorporating the issues that have been agreed upon before and if that was not possible, then the parties could opt for fresh election.

Dahal said also today he held discussions with the CPN (UML) chairman Jhalanath Khanal and senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal on this proposal.

Chairman Khanal and senior leader Nepal had in one voice suggested that Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai should resign and pave the way for the formation of a new consensus government before going for fresh election. RSS

KATHMANDU: CPN (UML) Chairman Jhalanath Khanal has said the President should not remain silent in the context that the nation has plunged into the crisis.

“The President is the lamp of the nation during the crisis and he has well understood his role, duties and responsibilities necessary for giving a way out to the country from the crisis”, he said.

Speaking at a face- to- face programme organised by the Reporters’ Club Nepal at his residence, Dallu today, leader Khanal claimed the incumbent government had no moral ground to remain in power even for a single minute and accused it of causing obstructions in forging the national consensus at the political-level.

He claimed that a consensus among the political parties would not be possible until and unless the incumbent government remains in power.

The UML Chairman warned of preparing for the nationwide protests against the government after the Tihar festival.

Claiming that an agreement could not be reached on the disputed issues in the constitution-drafting just because of the UCPN (Maoist), he underlined the need of going for fresh election to take the country on right track. RSS

KATHMANDU: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has asked senior leaders of major political parties to forge consensus on outstanding issues at the earliest to provide resolution to ongoing political impasse.
During his meeting with the senior leaders at his residence in the capital on Friday morning, the President handed down his statement to the leaders.
Among others the statement has asked the leaders to forge consensus and brought to their attention that the two-third budget presented earlier would be ending by the middle of November.
He urge leaders to garner consensus for holding general elections while expressing discontent towards the adoption of ordinances culture by the incumbent government reported CPN UML Chairman Jhalnath Khanal.
Expressing dejection towards the leaders to garner consensus despite their repeated commitments, the President asked them about what should he do to give passage to the nation, NC President Koirala said.
Terming Presidents concern to be positive, UCPN Maoist Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal said that efforts to garner consensus will be resumed after Dashain festival.