Kathmandu, May 3
Nepali Congress, the principal opposition in Parliament, is ready to accept UCPN-Maoist leader Prachanda as its candidate for Prime Minister, sources in the know have told Onlinekhabar.
According to multiple sources, Nepali Congress is preparing form a new government as political parties in Parliament prepare their strategy for the budget session of the House.
The party has made up its mind to back Prachanda, if it is not possible to get enough backing for NC President Deuba for the top post. When Deuba, who was elected president of the party, decided not to let of the post of parliamentary party leaders, observers had taken this as a sign of Deuba’s desire to become Prime Minister at the earliest. But the Congress chief now appears to be willing to stake the party’s claim on important ministries, and allow someone else (Prachanda) to become the chief executive.
Sources say that it is only a matter of days before Deuba meets Prachanda to make him the offer. Deuba is looking for an opportune moment so that Prachanda does not have a reason to say no. The Maoists feel that the Oli government has failed to deliver, but, as Deuba knows, they are reluctant to support a Congress-led government.
But Prachanda is likely put in last-ditch effort to convince Oli not to break the communist alliance, and let him lead the new government so that the Nepali Congress remains out of power. “Oli will not agree, and Prachanda will have a reason to withdraw support for the the UML government,” a Maoist leader told Onlinekhabar.
Prachanda’s design, Mahara’s execution
Sources say that Prachanda has assigned party general secretary Krishna Bahadur Mahara to negotiate with Deuba. It is also learnt that Mahara was also in Delhi when Deuba recently visited the Indian capital. There are many who believe that Mahara and Deuba discussed their options in Delhi.
Sources also say that on Monday night a secret meeting of Maoist leaders at Mahara’s residence saw the general secretary ask Prachanda and vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha what their take was on the government’s performance.
A leader who participated in the meeting said Prachanda did not answer the question, but Shrestha was of the view that it was time to think about changing the government.
NC wants change before budget presented
The Nepali Congress does not want the Oli government to present its budget. It wants to use the budget session of Parliament to kick UML out of power. When the UML understands that the Maoists and the NC are out to get the party, it will not include any programme backed by the Maoists, in the budget. Both parties understand that the UML will then bring a populist budget, which will harm the NC and Maoists’ election prospects.
