Congress, UML leaders still hope to keep alive eight-party unity
Leaders of two major ruling allies, the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, have expressed cautious optimism for keeping intact the eight-party unity in the aftermath of the Maoists' exit from the coalition government.
Nepali Congress general secretary and Peace and Reconstruction Minister Ram Chandra Poudel said efforts were underway not to let the unity of the eight parties collapse despite the Maoists’ departure from the government.
“The CPN-Maoist has not yet moved out of the alliance. We are working to maintain the unity of the parties, which is crucial for holding constituent assembly elections. We are still requesting them to remain in the government,” Poudel told a radio station hours after four Maoist ministers tendered their resignation.
He added, “We were quite close to an understanding, but they [Maoist leaders] remained firm on declaring republic from the parliament. The Maoist ministers walked away saying there is no alternative to doing so [declaring republic].”
Immediately after the breakdown of talks held in Baluwatar around the noon, four Maoist ministers – Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Dev Gurung, Hisila Yami and Khadga Bishwokarma – had submitted their resignation to Poudel, to be forwarded to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who is bedridden due to health problems.
Along with their resignation letters the Maoist ministers also submitted a letter of party chairman Prachanda informing the Prime Minister about the decision to quit government and requesting him to approve the resignations.
Meanwhile, UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal has said there is still hope for keeping the Maoists in the ruling coalition.
“We have not given up hope. Their resignations have not approved as yet. Efforts will be made to forge a consensus,” he said.
“There is no alternative to the unity of eight parties,” Nepal added, informing that leaders were trying to hold an eight-party meeting on Wednesday.
“We were assuming that talks were progressing. There were not many issues of contention.” nepalnews.com mk Sep 18 07
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