Nepali parties reject Maoists' CMP

Attempt to put in place a new government in Nepal receives a fresh jolt with the mainstream political parties rejecting the Maoists' CMP.

Attempt to put in place a new government in Nepal received a fresh jolt with the mainstream political parties rejecting the Maoists' CMP, a day ahead of the deadline set by the country's president for the former rebels to build a consensus on a coalition government.

HT Image

Nepals major political parties today rejected the CPN-Maoists 50-point common minimum programme (CMP) and their pre-conditions to form a coalition government, which has been delayed by months after the April 10 Constituent Assembly polls. They asked the Maoists to come up with new basis for building consensus on a government.

Being the largest party, the Maoists must first create an atmosphere of trust and we should sit together to find out a new basis for cooperation and collaboration instead of accepting the Maoists' programmes and policies, said Ramchandra Poudyal, the Nepali Congress general secretary.

The alliance of three main parties -- Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Madhesi Peoples Rights Forum ---met at the Singhdurbar to present a joint agenda to the Maoists.

The major political parties have intensified their consultations as the seven days deadline set by President Ram Baran Yadav for the Maoists to form a government of national consensus expires tomorrow.

Bharat Mohan Adhikari, senior leader of CPN-UML, said his party wants to form a government with the inclusion of all major parties, including Maoists and Nepali Congress, and "we are trying to work out a common basis to forge cooperation and collaboration."

Upendra Yadav, chief of Terai-based MPRF, rejected the former rebels' three-point conditions, which includes dissolution of the alliance formed by Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and MPRF, ensure two-year term for the Maoist-led government and domination of Maoist programmes in the CMP of the government.