Prez suggests NC, UML leadership to end political stalemate before Tihar

President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav on Sunday advised both Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN (UML) leadership to forge consensus and end the current political stalemate before the Tihar festivals which commences in about two weeks time.

Holding separate meetings with NC chief Sushil Koirala and CPN (UML) chairman Jhala Nath Khanal in Sheetal Niwas this morning, President Yadav said political parties should prepare for fresh election as there was no other alternative left to resolve the existing political deadlock.

During his meeting with NC chief Koirala, President Yadav suggested that the political parties should forge consensus to end the current stalemate at the earliest. He further added that the parties should stop lobbying for reinstatement of the Constituent Assembly (CA).

During the meeting, President Yadav and Koirala discussed the latest political situation of the country including the proposal of Dahal and his party to reinstate the CA.

However, although NC party chief Koirala is in favour of fresh election, party vice-chairman Ramchandra Paudel is of the view that reinstating the constitution-making body was the best way forward

Immediately after the meeting, President Yadav held consultation with UML chair Khanal who reached Sheetal Niwas for the meet. During the meeting President Yadav is learnt to have requested the UML chief to try to forge consensus to resolve the existing political stalemate before the Tihar festivals under any circumstances.

Saying that the CA was dissolved after failing to deliver the constitution and there is no point in reviving it, he also advised Khanal to prepare for fresh polls and try to bring other political parties including UCPN (Maoist) party (which is lobbying for CA reinstatement) into an understanding on this.

The suggestion from the President to go for fresh poll comes a day after Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal intensified talks with opposition leaders where he pressed for reinstatement of the CA. nepalnews.com