NC has proposed giving the incumbent government the shape of a national consensus government by incorporating the other parties while retaining its leadership.

 “As the largest party, Congress has the right to lead the national consensus government,” says NC leader Purna Bahadur Khadka.

But the other parties do not agree with the NC’s view. Not even its coalition partner, CPN-UML.

The UML leaders have laid their party’s claim over the proposed national consensus government, citing inability of the NC leadership to effectively respond to the situation post April 25.

Both NC and UML, which command two-third majority in the 601-member CA, had agreed to form Sushil Koirala-led government in February, 2014 with an understanding of completing the constitution writing process within a year of the government formation. It was also agreed that the NC would lend its support to UML to lead the next government.

The deadline set for the promulgation of new constitution has already been missed, with the major parties unable to settle the key disputed issues—federalism and forms of government. Now, the UML leaders are doubtful whether the NC leadership could steer the country out from the present crisis and, at the same time, deliver the constitution.

“Congress failed to deliver the constitution on time, and now the national crisis is deepening. So a national consensus government should be formed under our party’s leadership,” says UML Spokesperson Yogesh Bhattarai.

According to Bhattarai, his party could initiate no-confidence motion, if necessary, to replace the NC leadership.

The main opposition, UCPN (Maoist), is also in favour of forming a national consensus government under a new leadership. And the party has already backed UML’s leadership bid. To that end, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli have already held several rounds of discussion.

Maoist leader Devendra Poudel on Thursday proposed Oli’s name as the head of national consensus government and Dahal as the president of the proposed National Disaster Authority.

UML Chairman Oli also held a meeting with the party’s senior leaders, including Jhal Nath Khanal, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Bam Dev Gautam and Bidhya Bhandari, on Thursday morning to plan the party’s next move in light of the recent development. They have reached an understanding to hold a decisive meeting with Prime Minister Koirala before making their stance on the new government leadership.

Unity more important: Dahal

KAVRE: UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said a national unity government is not in his list of priority. He said the national unity is more important than the government in the present context. Dahal, however, said his party is not against of joining a national unity government if parties have common views over the plans

and policies for national development.

The former Prime Minister, who reached the district to hand over surgical equipment provided by MedSave America to Dhulikhel Hospital on Thursday, said political

parties should work together now to give a message that Nepal can reconstruct itself.