Nepal's top leaders hold crucial talks over govt formation

Shirish B. Pradhan
Kathmandu, Jun 21 (PTI) Nepal's ruling multi-party
alliance on Saturday held a crucial meeting to find a way out
of the current political stalemate over formation of a new
Maoists-led government, a day after all ministers from the
party of the former guerrillas resigned under dramatic
circumstances.
The meeting, which opened at Prime Minister Girija Prasad
Koirala's residence in Baluwatar, was aimed at forging a
consensus that could pave the way for forming the next
government.
Koirala, Maoist Chairman Prachanda, CPN-UML General
Secretary Jhalanath Khana, United Left Front leader C.P.
Mainali were engaged in crucial negotiations.
The meeting was expected to discuss key issues, including
amendment to the Constitution, settlement of the issue of
Maoists' arms and army and power-sharing, Nepali Congress Vice
President Gopalman Shrestha said.
The top three posts in the a new set-up -- Executive
Prime Minister, President and Chairman of the Constituent
Assembly, should be shared among Maoists, Nepali Congress and
CPN-UML, said Mainali.
Maoists had emerged as the single largest party in the
landmark April 10 polls for the 601-strong Constituent
Assembly by bagging 220 seats, followed by Nepali Congress of
Koirala and CPN-UML which received 110 and 103 seats
respectively.
If Maoists claim the post of executive prime minister,
the president's position should go to the Nepali Congress and
the slot of the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly should be
filled by the CPN-UML, Mainali said.
The Maoist ministers submitted their resignation on
Friday night at the ruling alliance's meeting in a bid to
pressurise Koirala to hand over power to their party at the
earliest.
The Maoists have also made a pact with the third largest
party CPN-UML to share the posts of Prime Minister and
President.
"We have not yet come to the power-sharing as the matters
relating to implementation of the peace process and
constitutional amendment should be settled first," Nepali
Congress leader Prakash Man Singh said.
After forging an understanding on all key issues, the
implementation of peace process, constitutional amendment and
power-sharing will be decided on package basis, he said.
The political deadlock has gripped Nepal for the past two
months, which has blocked the process of forming a new
government even two and a half months after the Constituent
Assembly elections.