SURKHET, Dec 17: At a time when the major political parties claim to be inching closer to finding a consensus prime ministerial candidate, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai on Sunday said he would not step down any time soon.
He said he will not step down bowing to opposition pressure. “Does any prime minister elected from parliament step down when there is no legislature? Does it happen anywhere in the world? Ask the opposition leaders first,” Bhattarai told media persons at Surkhet Airport on Sunday.
Stating that efforts were being made to transform his government into a national consensus coalition, Bhattarai said that the ruling parties are still working for the same.
“Holding election between mid-April to mid-May is essential if we are to end the political deadlock,” said the prime minister. “For that, all the sides should cooperate with the government to proceed ahead by amending election-related laws and constitutional provisions [by endorsing an ordinance].”
The prime minister said that the election commission has informed the government that it needs at least 120 days to prepare for the polls and made it clear that political parties must sign a political deal before that.
After failing to hold Constituent Assembly (CA) election scheduled for November 22, the prime minister announced to hold fresh polls between mid-April to mid-May. The prime minister didn´t announce a specific date saying that the date should be fixed through political understanding.
He said there is no point in the president repeatedly extending the deadline and termed the head of state´s call as “informal”. “The president will do nothing even if there is no agreement among the political parties,” said the prime minister.
Road access to Mugu
Prime Minister Bhattarai, who reached Mugu in an army helicopter, inaugurated the Nagma-Gamgadhi section of Karnali Highway on Sunday. With the opening of the new road section, Mugu is now connected to road network. Altogether 21 vehicles reached Gamgadhi, the district headquarters of Mugu, through the newly-constructed 94-km road section. Nepal Army had started the road construction project five years ago.
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