Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala has taken strong exception to UCPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal's comments during Saturday's roundtable organised by CPN-Maoist that his party was not yet ready to give government's leadership to the NC.

Speaking to reporters, Koirala, who did not attend the roundtable, said Dahal's statement was uncalled for because it was Dahal who decided whom to give the government leadership. He also blamed Dahal for constantly changing his position.

The NC president also said that the UCPN (M) had no other option than to "come to the political mainstream" and that he still believed that Dahal would be ready for it ultimately.

Speaking at the roundtable held in Lalitpur, Dahal said there should be an agreement on all key issues before the government change and that the Maoist party would not accept the NC's leadership at present. He also proposed to bring somebody from the civil society -- be it a former Chief Justice - to head an election government. nepalnews.com