CPN-UML Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai has remarked that his party Chairman KP Sharma Oli and CPN (Maoist Centre) chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal should give up active politics on the very day the two parties merge.

Bhattarai suggested that it would be better for the leaders of the two communist parties to resign from politics and embark on sharing their knowledge and experiences in international forums. “That would make them respectable in the world like Nelson Mandela.”

He added that along with Oli and Dahal, senior leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhala Nath Khanal and Bam Dev Gautam had scored 100 percent in politics. They could go and lecture students of political science at reputed universities around the globe, he said, speaking at a programme organised by the UML in Kathmandu.

He claimed that there were no doubts about unification between the two communist parties. He lashed out at Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba for his “reluctance to step down” even after losing the elections.

“In countries like Britain and India, the ruling parties resign from government after losing the vote,” said the UML leader, adding that political morality is above rules and law. “But our prime minister is clinging to power shamelessly.”

At the delay in publishing the results of the House of Representatives elections, the MP-elect said the Election Commission should work with conscience.

Will take initiative to break left alliance: NC Gen Secy Shashank

POKHARA: Nepali Congress General Secretary Shashank Koirala has said that he would take initiative in breaking CPN (Maoist Centre)’s ties with the left alliance.

Speaking at a party programme in Pokhara on Sunday, Koirala said that some party leaders in Kathmandu had urged him to talk with Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal over breaking its partnership with the CPN-UML.

“It would be beneficial for Congress in devising party’s future strategy if Maoist Centre leaves the left alliance,” said the NC leader. “I’ve decided to hold talks with Dahal as requested by party leaders.”

In another context, Koirala said that the party’s central committee would soon convene a meeting to assess the poor results in the recent elections under the fast-past-the-post category. As the party president, Sher Bahadur Deuba is more responsible 

for the election debacle, but every member of the party should share the blame equally, said Koirala. 

He also acknowledged that the party organisation built by BP Koirala had fallen apart, saying that party’s sister wings are also not up to the par. Stating that he does not have any desire to be the party president and prime minister, Koirala assured that his sole aim is to strengthen the party organisation. He added that the NC should now play a constructive role as an responsible opposition.