Kathmandu, July 27
The Nepali Congress said on Wednesday it will seek understanding with the CPN-UML on national political issues, not on the formation of a new government.
President Bidhya Bhandari has given parties represented in the Parliament a week to form a national consensus government to replace the KP Oli-led caretaker administration. Two days into the deadline, major political parties have not even started formal talks on the issue.
CPN-Maoist Centre Chair Prachanda and main contender for the position of Prime Minister, while presenting the no-confidence motion against the Oli government in the Parliament, had said he will make efforts to reach national consensus with parties, including the UML.
On the contrary, Congress leaders are saying they have no interest in including the UML in the government.
The Congress holds that one of the two major parties should stay in the opposition. Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba had maintained this stance when the UML leadership called his party to join the Oli government.
Congress leader Min Bishwokarma, who is close to Deuba, said: We don’t believe every party should be in the government. For now, there will be no dialogue with the UML on government formation.
He said a majority government will take shape after the expiry of the deadline for the formation of a consensus government. Congress has already agreed on the formation of a government under the leadership of Prachanda.
Congress leader Bishwokarma says: We will start dialogue with the UML after government formation. Our party will strive to reach an understanding with the UML on political issues.
Even the UML is not in favour of forming a unity government under Prachanda. UML leaders have said they will play the role of a powerful opposition.
