UML CC member offers alternatives to Khanal's proposal
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Dec 13: As CPN-UML´s central committee (CC) members continue deliberations over party chairman Jhalanath Khanal´s political proposal on ending the ongoing political deadlock, some members on Wednesday floated various alternatives to the chairman´s proposition.
Politburo member Mukunda Neupane and CC member Yogesh Bhattarai presented differing proposals on government formation, reinstatement of the dissolved Constituent Assembly and solution to the constitutional as well as political void.
On government formation, CC member Yogesh Bhattarai registered a separate two-page proposal with six different alternatives while the party chairman has proposed backing Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala for the prime ministerial post.
"On leadership of the new government, our first priority should be NC President Sushil Koirala. But if he fails to garner adequate support, our party should stake claim to government leadership," Bhattarai said in his proposal. "If the first and the second options do not work, we should propose CPN-Maoist General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa as the prime ministerial candidate." Bhattarai, however, clarified that his proposal was only a suggestion.
Similarly, Bhattarai has suggested to party leaders to be open to government leadership by any other leader, whoever would be acceptable to all, or to be ready to form a presidium of chiefs of the major political parties and allow them to head the new cabinet by turns.
"If the leaders fail to end the deadlock by forging agreement on any of these options, the top leaders of the major political parties should resign en masse and hand over the leadership to the new generation on moral grounds," he said.
Offering a separate written proposal at the meeting, UML politburo member Neupane lobbied for reinstatement of the CA that was dissolved in May without producing the new constitution. He argued that the elected Assembly that had also worked as the legislature parliament for the last four years need to be reinstated for a brief period to remove constitutional as well as legal difficulties.
"The decision to be taken based on political understanding can be legally and constitutionally challenged therefore we need to amend the constitution and laws through a legislative body," Neupane told Republica. "I proposed CA reinstatement for brief period and for specific purpose to ensure elections in the coming spring."
Party Spokesperson Pradeep Gyawali, however, said the proposal for CA reinstatement is irrelevant since an overwhelming majority of the party has already decided to go for new.
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UML CC Member Offers Alternatives To Khanal's Proposal
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