Leaders of the Nepali Congress and the UML have claimed that NC president Sushil Koirala is the most suitable candidate to lead a consensus government.

Speaking at an interaction organised by the Reporters Club Nepal Monday, they said that since UCPN (Maoist) and UML had taken their turns in the government leadership twice each after the Constituent Assembly election, the leadership of upcoming consensus government should naturally go the NC and that Koirala as the party president is the obvious choice for the PM.

NC leader Dr Narayan Khadka said that the party would name Koirala as the prime ministerial candidate within a week. "Sher Bahadur Deuba or Ram Chandra Poudel can stake claims only if he the President does not show interest," said he.

UML secretary Shankar Pokharel said the NC should announce its prime ministerial candidate as soon as possible. Making it clear that the UML would support the NC candidate for the PM, Pokharel said his party would come up with a name if the NC does not do so.

Speaking at the same programme, UCPN (Maoist) politburo member Shakti Basnet said his party was open to discussing the leadership of the next government. "The opposition parties are behaving as if change will come overnight if the government leadership is changed. This is wrong" said he. nepalnews.com