Maoist leaders confer with Terai-based parties
The CPN (Maoist) has started consultations with Terai-centric parties as
it prepares to lead the next government.
The Maoist leadership engaged in a tête-à-tête with leaders of Madhesi
parties including Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) which performed
remarkably well in the April 10 elections.
Maoist leaders first conferred with Terai Madhesh Loktantric Party (TMLP),
Sadbhawana Party (SP) and then with MJF leaders separately.
The meeting held at Prachanda's Nayabazaar residence mostly centered on
formation of the next government, first meeting of the Constituent
Assembly and implementation of republic. In the meeting, TMLP and
SP leaders are learnt to have made it clear to the Maoist leadership that
though
they would not be a part of the new government they would extend their
active support to it by remaining outside.
However, the meeting between CPN (Maoist) and MJF leaders was especially
significant as the former arch-rivals are known to have reached a sort of
an understanding on forming the new government prior to the first sitting
of the Constituent Assembly.
MJF coordinator Upendra Yadav, who is himself a former Maoist, told media
persons after the meeting that the Maoists have also agreed to their
proposal that the new government should nominate the 26 members for the
CA.
Yadav also said that the present caretaker government doesn't have the
right to take such an important decision and should leave it to the new
government of which his party is willing to be a part as a fourth largest
party of the CA.
During the meeting MJF also took up the issue of constitutional amendment
with Maoist leadership. The MJF has been seeking an amendment to the
constitution so as it provisions for the removal of prime minister with a
simple majority. However, the meeting failed to make any concrete decision
regarding this as the Maoists are said to be against making any amendment
to the constitution.
Maoist second-in-command Dr Baburam Bhattarai, TMLP's Hridayesh Tripath,
SP's Rajendra Mahato and MJF's Upendra Yadav and Bijaya Gachhedar were
present in the meeting. nepalnews.com ag May 11 08
