NC's Acting-President Sushil Koirala

Nepali Congress (NC) acting-president Sushil Koirala has said his party is ready to lead a national consensus government if it is given the opportunity and made it clear that there is no dispute inside the party regarding the same.

The remark from the top NC leader comes at a time when it is being said that there is serious dispute inside the party on the party's prime ministerial candidate with senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, NC Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel and party general secretary Kul Bahadur Gurung each emerging as the strong candidate for the post.

Interacting with journalists at his residence in Maharajgunj on Sunday, acting-president Koirala said that his party will choose the prime ministerial candidate in an appropriate manner if it gets the opportunity to lead the new government.

Koirala said that the party's central committee, parliamentary party and parliamentary board will choose the prime ministerial candidate from the party and denied reports that there is serious dispute regarding the issue.

"They are mere rumors fanned by the media," he said.

He also said that there is absolutely no possibility for a Maoist led government until the party abides by past agreements, which includes fixing a number of Maoist combatants to be integrated into the state security forces, return of seized properties and dismantling the paramilitary structure of its youth wing, the Young Communist League(YCL).

Koirala said he is leaving for the US on Monday for medical check-up and assured that his absence won't make any difference in the party's decisions.

A Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of the party held at party headquarters Sanepa Saturday has given the responsibility of choosing a candidate after discussion with other parties to acting president Sushil Koirala, parliamentary party leader and vice-chairman Ram Chandra Poudel, senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and general secretary Kul Bahadur Gurung. nepalnews.com