Delay on power sharing sours NC-UML relations
KATHMANDU, JAN 12 -
The recent overtures from the largest party, Nepali Congress, to the UCPN (Maoist) on government formation and its foot-dragging in floating a power-sharing proposal seem to have distanced the CPN-UML.
Closer on most constitutional issues, the NC and the UML have failed to see eye to eye after the November elections established them as almost parallel forces. With 175 and 196 seats in the Constituent Assembly, respectively, the UML and the NC are the two largest parties.
While the UML sees the NC drifting to the UCPN (Maoist), the largest party is “displeased” by the UML demand for fresh election of the President for the sake of “respectable” power-sharing in the new political set-up.
Though the NC has not formally clarified whether it would forsake the UML for the Maoists, the level of mistrust seems to have grown between the two parties, probably due to the lack of communication and a delay on the part of NC in tabling a power-sharing deal. The recent controversy over the calling of the first meeting of the CA has further soured the relations between the two parties and the UML has started hardening its position on replacing the incumbent President.
The two parties have not had a chance to meet and seriously discuss power-sharing since the election. UML leaders, who have grown sceptical of the NC , claim there is ill intention behind NC ’s dillydallying in discussing power-sharing issues and the post-election neglect for the second largest party. The NC has instead held parleys with the UCPN (Maoist) and smaller parties, such as the Rastriya Prajatantra Party.
“The NC delay in tabling a power-sharing proposal surprises us,” said UML leader Agni Kharel. “We are ready to think of other alternatives if the NC is not in mood to partner with us.”
UML Secretary Shankar Pokharel said NC ’s recent activities have raised suspicion. “Historically, the NC has been using the Maoist party when it sees the UML as its strongest rival. Before the 12-point deal in 2005, the UML took the lead in bringing the Maoists to the negotiating table. Later on, Girija Prasad Koirala undermined UML’s role in the entire peace process by advancing discreetly to the Maoists with seemingly more attractive offers,” said Pokharel. “This time too, the UML has emerged as the biggest threat for the NC . This seems to have prompted the party to reach out to the Maoists, ignoring the UML.”
UML’s disenchantment with the largest party follows NC leaders’ informal meeting with their Maoist counterparts last week to discuss some trade-offs in the process of forming a majority government.
The Maoist leaders are said to have agreed in principle to support an NC -led government and the continuity of incumbent President Ram Baran Yadav in return for two key positions: leadership of the proposed cross-party mechanism and the post of either Speaker or the chair of the Constitutional Committee. While some NC leaders have spoken positively, there has not been any formal agreement on handing over the leadership of the cross-party mechanism to the Maoist party.
A hardened UML has now initiated talks with the UCPN (Maoist) as the leaders see better prospects of improving relations with another communist party. The UML has proposed sharing the top five posts of President, Vice President, prime minister, Speaker, and chair of the Constitutional Committee among the three major parties, including the Maoists, the third largest party.
The UML and the NC signed a three-point deal on December 8 to share key posts amicably. “It’s over a month since we asked NC President Sushil Koirala to float a power-sharing proposal and speed up the government formation process,” said a UML leader. “Instead, NC ’s second rung leaders, including Krishna Prasad Sitaula, have approached Maoist leaders to discuss the process of forming a majority government by sidelining the UML.”
NC leaders, on the other hand, say they have no intention to form a government without the UML. “UML leaders seem to have been paranoid for nothing; the NC will form a government with the UML as its main partner,” said an NC leader. “We are, however, not going to accept the demand for re-electing the President.”
Some NC leaders, during a recent Central Committee meeting, demanded that the UML should be taken as a competitor.
“A majority of NC leaders including the president are for a consensus government. So we want to hear officially from the NC . If not, we will come up with our own idea,” said UML leader Yubraj Gyawali.
Others in the UML warn that if the NC continues to go on its own, the UML should become the opposition. “If they really want to bar us from the government, the UML will sit on the opposition bench and play a constructive role in parliament,” said UML leader Gokarna Bista.
Maoists ‘ready’ to join Koirala govt
KATHMANDU: UCPN (Maoist) leader Haribol Gajurel has said his party is ready to join the government if it is led by NC President Sushil Koirala.
“We are ready to join the government if it assists in statute drafting process and ensures the constitution within a year,” Gajurel said at an interaction programme in the Capital on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Maoist spokesperson Agni Prasad Sapkota told reporters that party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had asked the NC President Sushil Koirala to initiate a process to form the new government. (PR)
The recent overtures from the largest party, Nepali Congress, to the UCPN (Maoist) on government formation and its foot-dragging in floating a power-sharing proposal seem to have distanced the CPN-UML.
Closer on most constitutional issues, the NC and the UML have failed to see eye to eye after the November elections established them as almost parallel forces. With 175 and 196 seats in the Constituent Assembly, respectively, the UML and the NC are the two largest parties.
While the UML sees the NC drifting to the UCPN (Maoist), the largest party is “displeased” by the UML demand for fresh election of the President for the sake of “respectable” power-sharing in the new political set-up.
Though the NC has not formally clarified whether it would forsake the UML for the Maoists, the level of mistrust seems to have grown between the two parties, probably due to the lack of communication and a delay on the part of NC in tabling a power-sharing deal. The recent controversy over the calling of the first meeting of the CA has further soured the relations between the two parties and the UML has started hardening its position on replacing the incumbent President.
The two parties have not had a chance to meet and seriously discuss power-sharing since the election. UML leaders, who have grown sceptical of the NC , claim there is ill intention behind NC ’s dillydallying in discussing power-sharing issues and the post-election neglect for the second largest party. The NC has instead held parleys with the UCPN (Maoist) and smaller parties, such as the Rastriya Prajatantra Party.
“The NC delay in tabling a power-sharing proposal surprises us,” said UML leader Agni Kharel. “We are ready to think of other alternatives if the NC is not in mood to partner with us.”
UML Secretary Shankar Pokharel said NC ’s recent activities have raised suspicion. “Historically, the NC has been using the Maoist party when it sees the UML as its strongest rival. Before the 12-point deal in 2005, the UML took the lead in bringing the Maoists to the negotiating table. Later on, Girija Prasad Koirala undermined UML’s role in the entire peace process by advancing discreetly to the Maoists with seemingly more attractive offers,” said Pokharel. “This time too, the UML has emerged as the biggest threat for the NC . This seems to have prompted the party to reach out to the Maoists, ignoring the UML.”
UML’s disenchantment with the largest party follows NC leaders’ informal meeting with their Maoist counterparts last week to discuss some trade-offs in the process of forming a majority government.
The Maoist leaders are said to have agreed in principle to support an NC -led government and the continuity of incumbent President Ram Baran Yadav in return for two key positions: leadership of the proposed cross-party mechanism and the post of either Speaker or the chair of the Constitutional Committee. While some NC leaders have spoken positively, there has not been any formal agreement on handing over the leadership of the cross-party mechanism to the Maoist party.
A hardened UML has now initiated talks with the UCPN (Maoist) as the leaders see better prospects of improving relations with another communist party. The UML has proposed sharing the top five posts of President, Vice President, prime minister, Speaker, and chair of the Constitutional Committee among the three major parties, including the Maoists, the third largest party.
The UML and the NC signed a three-point deal on December 8 to share key posts amicably. “It’s over a month since we asked NC President Sushil Koirala to float a power-sharing proposal and speed up the government formation process,” said a UML leader. “Instead, NC ’s second rung leaders, including Krishna Prasad Sitaula, have approached Maoist leaders to discuss the process of forming a majority government by sidelining the UML.”
NC leaders, on the other hand, say they have no intention to form a government without the UML. “UML leaders seem to have been paranoid for nothing; the NC will form a government with the UML as its main partner,” said an NC leader. “We are, however, not going to accept the demand for re-electing the President.”
Some NC leaders, during a recent Central Committee meeting, demanded that the UML should be taken as a competitor.
“A majority of NC leaders including the president are for a consensus government. So we want to hear officially from the NC . If not, we will come up with our own idea,” said UML leader Yubraj Gyawali.
Others in the UML warn that if the NC continues to go on its own, the UML should become the opposition. “If they really want to bar us from the government, the UML will sit on the opposition bench and play a constructive role in parliament,” said UML leader Gokarna Bista.
Maoists ‘ready’ to join Koirala govt
KATHMANDU: UCPN (Maoist) leader Haribol Gajurel has said his party is ready to join the government if it is led by NC President Sushil Koirala.
“We are ready to join the government if it assists in statute drafting process and ensures the constitution within a year,” Gajurel said at an interaction programme in the Capital on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Maoist spokesperson Agni Prasad Sapkota told reporters that party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had asked the NC President Sushil Koirala to initiate a process to form the new government. (PR)
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