Miscellaneous
After unity govt refrain, Maoists changing tune
Leaders say party exploring possibilities of major political realignmentAfter holding to the consensus government refrain for long, the CPN (Maoist Centre), it seems, is singing a different tune and gradually exploring the possibility of a majority government, as it has failed to get expected success in convincing the governing CPN-UML and the main opposition Nepali Congress on the idea of a unity government.
Maoist leaders said an internal meeting of party’s top brass on Thursday had agreed to keep the doors open for talks for the formation of a majority government with parties that it finds closer to it on key agendas.
Maoist leaders, however, said such possibilities would be explored only if the current initiatives to form a national unity government under party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal fails to make expected progress.
“If there is no consensus on a national unity government, there would be a major political realignment among parties on the basis of agenda,” said a senior Maoist leader on condition of anonymity. “And our party would support whomever it finds closer to it on the agenda.”
During a meeting with the party’s top leaders on Thursday, Dahal had said that the party’s priority was leading a national unity government with the backing of the UML. “There still is possibility of a national consensus government, as many within UML are also stressing on its need,” a leader present in the meeting quoted Dahal as saying. “He had said the party, however, should also be ready for possible collaboration with the NC based on key issues of national importance.” Maoist Centre Spokesperson Pampha Bhusal said the party “is hopeful about getting support from the UML and the NC” for the formation of unity government. “Our party, however, will also explore alternatives if that doesn’t happen. It is too early to say anything, as negotiations are still in progress with both the parties,” said Bhusal.
The Maoist leadership is also making a fresh effort to mend ties with the NC after a spectacular fiasco in May when the Maoist Centre did a volte-face within 24 hours after deciding to pull out of the current coalition, leaving the main opposition red-faced.
Last week, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba had hinted that NC was ready to support Dahal to lead a majority government.
Dahal is under pressure from a section of leaders within his own party to seek alternative to the incumbent government. Notwithstanding the nine-point agreement signed on May 5 in a bid to keep the coalition intact, rift between the UML and Maoist Centre has widened of late.
The Maoist leadership is increasingly unhappy with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli “for not doing enough to implement the new constitution and resolve the crisis facing the country”.