Maoists, CPN-UML cut deal to share posts of PM, Prez

Shirish B. Pradhan

Kathmandu, June 21 (PTI) - In a significant political move,
Maoists and another Communist party have forged a pact to
share the two top posts of executive Premier and President in
a new set-up, sidelining Prime Minister G.P. Koirala's Nepali
Congress.

During a meeting between C.P.N.-Maoist chief Prachanda
and C.P.N.-U.M.L. General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal, an
understanding was reached that the former rebels be given the
post of Prime Minister while the President's post will go to
the U.M.L., party sources said.

"However, we have proposed to give the post of Chairman
of the 601-member Constituent Assembly to the Nepali
Congress," Khanal told P.T.I.

He said the proposal will be forwarded to the meeting of
the ruling multi-party alliance to be held later in the day
for approval.

The U.M.L. staked claim for the post of President after
Maoists outrightly rejected 83-year-old Koirala's candidature
for it. Khanal, however, said that they have not yet decided
about who should be their candidate for the President.

Speculation is rife here that either former C.P.N.-U.M.L.
General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal or outgoing Speaker of
the Interim parliament Subhash Nemwang would be named for the
top post from the party.

In the new scenario of political polarisation when the
two largest Communist parties are forging an alliance, there
is a possibility of Nepali Congress choosing not to remain in
Cabinet, Nepali Congress sources said.

Maoists emerged as the largest party in the landmark
April 10 Constituent Assembly polls, bagging 220 seats,
followed by Nepali Congress and the C.P.N.-U.M.L., which
received 110 and 103 seats respectively.

"We will focus our attention in drafting a democratic
Constitution by playing the role of a constructive
opposition," said Nepali Congress spokesman Arjun Narsingh
K.C., just before participating in the multi-party meeting at
Baluwatar. PTI