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King intensifies efforts to form Govt
King Gyanendra intensified consultations with leaders of five parties in the formation of a new government after PM's resignation two weeks ago.
King Gyanendra intensified consultations with leaders of Nepal's five political parties in the formation of a new government after the resignation of the prime minister two weeks ago.
The king met Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), in a one-on-one discussion late last night on the political crisis of the country.
"I once again reiterated the five parties' stance for resolving the crisis during the two-hour meeting with the king," Nepal told reporters after the meeting.
Leaders of the five political parties had requested the king to reinstate the house of representatives, form a government with members of all the political parties from the dissolved house and initiate a dialogue with the Maoists, who are trying to establish a communist-style rule in the Himalayan kingdom since 1996.
The insurgency has claimed the lives of over 9,500 lives.
Nepal said there was no discussion on the appointment of a new prime minister during the meeting. Former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa had resigned two weeks ago.
Nepal's name was proposed as the prime ministerial candidate by the five political parties last year. However, the king had then appointed Thapa to the post.
The king will meet other leaders of the five political parties and he is intent on resolving the problems in the country, Nepal said.
The king also raised the issue of the five political parties' demonstration being held in Kathmandu where participants have been shouting anti-king slogans demanding the abolition of monarchy in the Himalayan Kingdom.
Nepal did not divulge details of his discussion with the king. However, analysts said the CPN-UML was flexible in its attitude towards the king after the meeting.
The number of CPN-UML workers who participated in a demonstration held Thursday was very low compared to that in earlier protests. Nepal said the CPN-UML would not go against the agreement and understanding of the five political parties.
"Our demand for the reinstatement of the house is still there," said Arjun Narsingh, spokesman of the Nepali Congress. "Our demand was that the king should meet jointly the five political parties and then the leaders of the political parties are ready to discuss individually."
Thapa, who is the acting prime minister now, had also met the king Thursday. "I have already resigned to pave the way to resolve the problem of the country and it is the responsibility of the five political parties to find a way a solution to the present crisis," he said.
"This was a routine meeting," Thapa said of his discussion Thursday with the king. The parties should find the solution, said Thapa, who was forced to resign by the five parties. The parties, including the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Nepal Sadbhavana Party, Janamorcha Nepal and Nepal Kisan Majdoor Party, have been staging protests demanding the restoration of democracy in the country for over a year now.
