Prachanda courts Nepal for UML's participation in new govt

A day after CPN-UML pulled out of the government citing its defeat in the election, CPN-Maoist chairman Prachanda met the party's outgoing General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal at the latter's residence in Koteshwor Thursday.

During the half-an-hour long meeting Prachanda is learnt to have requested Nepal to join the new Maoist-led government to be formed soon.

Prachanda was of the assertion that even though the CPN-Maoist has won the election it needs collaboration of other parties in running the government.

In response, Nepal made it clear that the UML agrees to an all-party consensual government, but the decision whether the party should join the next government would be taken by its Standing Committee meeting to be held soon. But, according to a source, the two leaders reached a tacit understanding for a "working cooperation" between the leftist parties.

Nepal is reported to have told Prachanda that they should go ahead and form a new government since the people have given them clear mandate for this. He, however, pledged his active support to the new government in the coming days.

Stating that the seven-party unity and cooperation is equally essential in the coming days, the Maoist chairman stressed the need for representation of all the parties in the new government.

Dr Baburam Bhattarai, the Maoist second-in-command, was also present in the meeting. nepalnews.com ag Apr 17 08