KATHMANDU, Dec 11: Coordinator of the ruling United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar said on Tuesday that Madhesi parties would not back Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai for new national consensus government.
Gachchhadar, who is also Deputy Prime Minister and *Home Minister, said the Madhesi alliance is not in favor of retaining Bhattarai-led government. “I´m not in the prime ministerial race.
Bhattarai will not be retained in the new consensus government either,” Gachchhadar said while also brushing aside rumors that he was also contesting for the prime ministerial berth.
The UDMF is key ally to the current Bhattarai-led government. Among others, Gachchhadar´s name is among those vying for the prime ministerial berth in political circle.
Addressing a special interaction organized by Reporters´ Club Nepal, Gachchhadar said that the country would not be able to resolve the current deadlock by restricting any political force. “I am confident that there will be consensus among the political parties within the next few days,” he said.
Gachchhadar´s remark comes in the wake of the major political parties failing to reach agreement on consensus government with the second extended deadline set to expire Wednesday.
Gachchhadar also said that the decision of the ruling Federal Democratic Republican Alliance (FDRA) to expand cabinet if there was no consensus by Wednesday would be counterproductive. “Such a decision will only invite confrontation between the president and the prime minister,” he said. “Any such move would push the country toward fresh confrontation.”
Gachchhadar also clarified that the ruling parties had not sought agreement on all contentious issues. “We cannot reach any agreement on the number of provinces now. We don´t want any agreement that would undermine the rights of the sovereign people,” he added.
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