Koirala favours a new coalition

Nepal's Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala urges all political parties to explore ways to give shape to a new coalition. Anirban Roy reports.

As the Maoists struggle to form a government in Nepal, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Monday urged all political parties to explore ways to give shape to a new coalition.

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“The parties should now start consultations on the formation of a new government,” said Koirala in a statement.

“It’s time for us to focus our attention on our tasks as per the people’s verdict, expressed through the election,” said Koirala. “The election results, too, have reflected the need of consensus, cooperation and unity.”

Referring to the interim constitution, Koirala insisted that it has a provision of political consensus for the running of new government. “The provision nattily justified my party’s claim to continue to lead the new coalition,” said Koirala.

Stressing that a federal republican set-up and multi-party democratic governing system can lead to a peaceful and prosperous Nepal, the PM asked all the political parties to show unity.

Koirala claimed the interim constitution’s first priority was the implementation of a republican set-up in the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly. “It’s a common duty of all of us to complete this task,” exhorted Koirala.

“Nepal is entering into a new era. We are at the most important hour of transition as we are entering the phase of making a constitution through the Constituent Assembly.”

Meanwhile, almost all the political parties have stepped up intra-party parleys to review the electoral outcome and to form a new government.