UML sets conditions to back Maoists

Earlier, the CPN (UML) had decided not to join the new government because of their failure in the CA election and its ministers had resigned from the interim government, reports Anirban Roy.

Amidst uncertainty over the formation of a new government by the Maoists in Nepal, the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) has set conditions to join the coalition.

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The CPN (UML) has proposed that the interim constitution be amended and the posts of president, head of government and chairman of the Constituent Assembly (CA) be shared by major political parties.

“Sharing the top posts can be the only way to garner our support for the new Maoist-led government,” said Amrit Kumar Bohora, the general secretary of the party. “Power sharing is our pre-condition to support the Maoists.”

Earlier, the CPN (UML) had decided not to join the new government because of their failure in the CA election and its ministers had resigned from the interim government.

The central committee meetings of the Maoists and the CPN (UML) continued to review the electoral outcome to chalk out measures for government formation. Maoist chairman Prachanda met former CPN (UML) general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and held discussions on the current political process.

Meanwhile, senior Maoist leader Babu Ram Bhattarai has described the Nepali Congress' (NC) claim to lead the new government as "mockery of international trend".

“NC's assertion to lead the new government will be an insult to the people's aspirations,” said Bhattarai. The former insurgents have the legal right to lead the new coalition, he added.

Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has been campaigning that the NC should lead the government.