Valley
Deuba rejects Dahal’s consensus govt idea
Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba on Monday rejected CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s call for forming a national unity government.Sarin Ghimire
Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba on Monday rejected CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s call for forming a national unity government.
Last week, the NC had refused Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s request to join the incumbent government.
Dahal had urged Deuba to support his initiative to lead a national unity government during a meeting between the two leaders on Monday afternoon, NC lawmaker Bimalendra Nidhi, a leader close to Deuba who was present in the meeting, told the Post.
“Even though we want national consensus among parties to implement the constitution since we have to hold three elections, address Madhesi concerns and speed up post-quake reconstruction work, our position is clear—we do not have to be in the government for all these,” Nidhi quoted Deuba as telling Dahal during the meeting.
CPN Maoist Centre leader Barshaman Pun confirmed that the NC was not ready for a national consensus government.
“We are now talking about other alternatives,” said Pun.
When asked if a consensus government is necessary at this point of time, NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat said there had been no discussion within the party regarding a change of guard. “Nor has the party taken any official stance as of yet,” said Mahat.
“In principle, we are not against the idea of a national unity government,” added Mahat. “But since all major leaders have put themselves at the centre of such talks, I do not see any serious progress on the matter.”