Political deadlock will soon end: Maoist leader

Agencies/Kathmandu

Amid a political impasse in Nepal, Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda yesterday voiced confidence that a solution will soon be found and leaders of all major parties will reach consensus on forming a national unity government.

“I have met top leaders of both the opposition parties - Nepali Congress and CPN-UML - today and I am confident that the current situation of stalemate will soon end,” UCPN-Maoist president Prachanda said.

Prachanda has underlined the need to forge co-operation and collaboration among the forces who were parties to the 12-point agreement reached in Delhi in November 2005, to end autocratic monarchy and restore multiparty democracy in the country.

He also cautioned people against conspiracy being hatched to drag the country towards an autocratic regime.

“I am very much hopeful that the country will be rescued from the current situation of deadlock before the six-day deadline issued by President Ram Baran Yadav ends,” he said.

President Yadav had extended the deadline issued to the political parties to form a consensus government for the second time on Friday.

Nepal is being run by a caretaker government for the past five months after prime minister Madhab Kumar Nepal stepped down on June 30. The 17th round of the prime ministerial elections has been postponed twice after failing for 16 times and uncertainty looms as to when the elections will be held.

Yadav, whose role as head of state is normally ceremonial, had originally set a November 29 deadline for the parties to agree on the make-up of a unity government to take Nepal into polls for a new parliament set for April or May next year.

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai hopes to name a cabinet that includes members of his Maoist party and others from the opposition Nepali Congress and UML as well as smaller regional groups.

Talks have stalled over who should lead the new administration, with the opposition blocs publicly rejecting the idea of a Bhattarai-led national unity government and the premier refusing to step aside.