HLPC agrees, in principle, to hold round-table meet

KATHMANDU, AUG 23 -
Not knowing what the CPN-Maoist exactly wants, the High-level Political Committee ( HLPC ) on Thursday agreed ‘in principle’ to hold a round-table conference/all-party meeting if that helps the party in joining the November 19 elections.

According to leaders, the HLPC agreed to hold the round-table after the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist gave a ‘positive signal.’

The fate of such a conference, however, largely depends on the CPN-M’s commitment to the polls, which is often “seen wavering.”

Cross-party leaders said they will hold informal talks with CPN-Maoist leaders on Thursday and Friday and find out what exactly the party wants from the round-table. However, if the CPN-Maoist wants to settle all the issues in the roundtable conference and postpone the elections, such a meeting may not take place at all, the leaders said.

HLPC leaders said a roundtable conference can only discuss contentious issues of the new constitution, while the final call will be taken by the Constituent Assembly.

The HLPC had earlier said that it is ready to postpone the elections if the poll-opposing parties make a commitment to contest the elections later. Cross-party leaders privy to the developments say there are reasons for them giving the CPN-Maoist such leeway. The first reason is that they want to test the CPN-Maoist’s honesty in being part of the CA election process, while another is to give the party a message that the HLPC tried its best to bring the party on board. Yet another reason the leaders said was to ‘expose’ the CPN-Maoist’s ‘intention of not wanting the election to take place.’ “The CPN-Maoist, which is demanding cancellation of the election process, changed its mind in the talks (on Thursday) with the HLPC , saying it is ready to join the election process,” said HLPC leader Bharat Bimal Yadav. “We agreed on a round-table conference as they were positive about the polls.” HLPC members—UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, Nepali Congress Vice-chairman Ram Chandra Poudel and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Nepal-Democratic Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar—are of the view that Baidya will not join the election, and as such, it should not be postponed.

However, NC President Sushil Koirala, UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal and UCPN (Maoist) leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha are of the view that holding the polls will be difficult without the CPN-Maoist’s participation.

CPN-Maoist leaders, on the other hand, said they have not agreed to join the November 19 election

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