Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has described the government's decision to hold fresh election of the Constituent Assembly as "constitutional and democratic step taken out of compulsion, which is in line with the Supreme Court's verdict". He has also urged the parties to be ready for national consensus government.

"The country is in a critical stage. We would like to call upon all the political parties to forget the prejudices and reach consensus to form national unity government," Dahal said, reading out a statement during a press conference organised at a hotel near his Lazimpat residence Monday.

Blaming the Nepali Congress and the UML for the dissolution of the CA, he claimed that the announcement of the elections has foiled the conspiracy to push the country to disaster. According to him, the NC and the UML did not agree on any of the options that would keep the CA alive.

Saying that there is no constitutional vacuum at the moment, the Maoist chairman reiterated that Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai is not going to step down as demanded by other parties.

Dahal also insisted that dissolution of the CA was not the failure of his leadership. "The constitution could not be written because I was never ready for any agreement against the rights of the marginalised communities including Dalits, Janajatis and Madhesis," he argued.

He also went on to claim that the Maoist party would secure two-third majority in the next CA election. "Even though people are angry at the moment, the Maoist party is going to secure two-third majority." nepalnews.com

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