Following widespread protests against government's decision to extend the Constituent Assembly's term by three more months, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula has announced that he is no more a part of the current government.

The Nepali Congress general secretary, who left the Central Committee meet of the party midway on Wednesday, said he sees no meaning in continuing to remain in the Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai led cabinet.

Although DPM Sitaula has not formally resigned from his post, he said he agrees with his party's stance that the new constitution should be promulgated within the May 27 deadline and that the decision to extend CA's term will be erroneous.

"Whether my party decides to stay in the government or not, but I see no meaning to remain in the government. It is just that I couldn't protest against the government's decision to extend Constituent Assembly's term by three more months as I was a part of it," Sitaula said. Meanwhile, NC is likely to recall its ministers from the Bhattarai-led national unity government today to oppose the government's move to extend CA's term.

An informal meeting of senior NC leaders and office bearers held at party president Sushil Koirala's residence Wednesday morning decided to reject the government's decision to register constitution amendment bill in the parliament for CA term extension.

The Central Committee meet called at the party headquarters in Sanepa later the same day to formalise the party's decision, however, ended inconclusively. But majority of NC leaders at the meeting remained adamant on the party's stance for promulgation of the constitution within the May 27 deadline under any circumstances.

They also slammed the government decision to extend CA term as a "mockery" of rule of law as it undermined Supreme Court's verdict that had ended the possibility of another extension of the CA term. nepalnews.com