As the political parties are gearing up to form a new government and pick new president and vice president, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that his party will not claim any vital posts.

The main priority of the Maoist party for now is to effectively implement the new constitution, to make it comprehesive by amending it to address the rights of the agitating parties, he said on Sunday.

For that, Dahal suggested, a consensus government should be formed. He added that his party was ready to accept the government led by either Nepali Congress or CPN-UML.

Claiming that conspiracies were afoot to divide the three-party unity, the Maoists chairman said it was crucial they stand together until the constitution is implemented. He was hinting at the polarisation among the three parties regarding government formation.

National unity is needed at least until the local and federal administrative structures are formed, Dahal said.

He also mentioned that Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik led by Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, who had played a vital role in the constitution drafting process, should be included in the new government.

UML fields Oli for PM seat

The CPN-UML Standing Committee has decided to field party Chairman KP Sharma Oli as the candidate for next prime minister.

Party leaders said Oli was nominated based on the agreements that was reached among major political parties in the past. They claimed that Prime Minister Sushil Koirala had informally agreed to handover the government leadership to Oli while signing a seven-point agreement.

The gentlemen’s agreement, according to UML leaders, was also seconded by the UCPN (Maoist) and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik when the six-point agreement was signed in June, which had paved way for promulgation of the new constitution.

The party has also formed a committee to lobby for Oli’s unanimous election. The committee includes senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal, leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, Vice Chairman Bam Dev Gautam and Bidhya Bhandari.