CPN-UML offers conditional support to Maoist-led Nepali govt
The Communist Party of Nepal (UML) yesterday offered conditional support to a Maoist-led government, demanding a common minimum programme based on "national consensus" and one of the top three posts.
"The common minimum programme should be determined forging national consensus before forming a new government and for that a seven party meeting should be held very soon to discuss the modalities...," acting general secretary of CPN-UML Amrit Bohara told PTI.
At a central committee meeting of the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist), which bagged 103 seats in the 601-member Constituent assembly, most members insisted that the party should not join the government, party sources said after yesterday's conclave.
Some members, however, suggested that the top posts of President, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Constituent Assembly be shared among the three major parties-- CPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, the sources added.
However, Bohar added "the Maoists have not yet brought any concrete proposal and we have not yet decided whether to join the Maoist led government or not." Maoists, who ended their decade-long armed struggle for abolition of monarchy in 2006 and joined political mainstream, emerged as the single largest party after the April 10 elections bagging 220 seats and are demanding the leadership of the new government.
In a bid to convince the CPN-UML to join a government, Maoist chairman Prachanda met outgoing general secretary of the party Madhav Kumar Nepal yesterday.
CPN-UML ministers quit the cabinet last week following the pary's dismal poll performance.
Meanwhile, hardline Hindus have vowed an "armed struggle" to save Nepal's King Gyanendra from losing his throne after former Maoist rebels swept elections in the home of the world's last Hindu monarchy.
Dozens of Hindu leaders who met in northern India for the annual conference of the Kathmandu-based World Hindu Federation pledged to protect King Gyanendra "at all cost," a Hindu leader told AFP on Monday.
"He is worthy of worship by all Hindus and we will protect him and bring him back to power at all cost," said Yogi Kaushalendranath, head priest of the Devi Patan temple in Uttar Pradesh state where the weekend meeting took place.
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