KATHMANDU, Sept 15: With the September 16-deadline set by the political parties for consensus approaching fast, President Ram Baran Yadav has invited top leaders of the major political parties on Sunday morning to exert pressure on them to “act without delay”.
“The president is deeply worried. The president has called the top leaders of UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) on Sunday to push for a solution,” said press advisor to the president Rajendra Dahal.
Three-and-a-half months after the demise of Constituent Assembly, political parties still have not been able to find a solution to the ongoing political and constitutional crisis, Dahal told Republica.
The three major parties and UDMF had agreed to forge consensus by September 16.
Though the government unilaterally dissolved the CA and announced fresh election for November 22, the parties are now contemplating CA revival as an easy way out.
While the ruling parties have been maintaining that opposition parties should first resolve the contentious issues in constitution writing, opposition parties including NC and CPN-UML have maintained that the current government must first step down to prepare grounds for consensus. The opposition parties have also urged the president to step in to resolve the deadlock.
Talking to Republica, NC CWC member Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said it is high time for the president to step in to resolve the deadlock. "The current crisis should not continue for long. There must be a new government in place at the earliest," he said.
Dr Mahat also said that the president should now ask the parties to name a consensus candidate for the prime ministerial post. "If the parties fail to name a consensus candidate, the president should appoint the person who commands the support of majority parties as the new prime minister," he further said. "The president can then entrust the prime minister so appointed with forging consensus."
CPN-UML politburo member Surendra Pandey also said it was high time for the president to take steps in consultation with the political parties. "The president should take steps to resolve the deadlock in consultation with the political parties," he said.
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