Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said he is not interested becoming the next Prime Minister, but revealed that his party was ready to look into the possibility of an alternative to the current leadership of the government if efforts to turn the coalition cabinet into a unity government failed.

"I have no desire to become the Prime Minister. Our party also does not have any policy [to place him to the top job]," Dahal said while speaking to reporters at Biratnagar airport on Friday.

He also said that the claim of the Nepali Congress over the government leadership was valid. "Our party and the UML have headed the government twice each. The NC's demand for a turn is valid," added he.

The Maoist strongman, who arrived in Biratnagar accompanied by Prime Minister and party vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai and another vice chairman Mohan Baidya to preside over a cadre training programme organised by the Kochila State Committee, said the best option, however, would be to turn the current government into a government of national consensus.

Similarly, Prime Minister Bhattarai said he was ready to make "any sacrifice" to install a national consensus for the sake of peace and constitution. He, however, claimed that substantial progress has been made in constitution-drafting and peace process during his premiership. nepalnews.com