MPs and civil society leaders urge major political parties to form consensus government

Kathmandu / October 5: Various members of parliaments (MP) taking part in all party-meeting organised by Prime Minister Sushil Koirala at his residence at Baluwatar in the Capital on Monday, have urged the major political party leaders to form a consensus government.

They viewed that there is no alternative to form a consensus government to address agitations in the Tarai, end current political stalemate and implement the newly promulgated constitution.

They also suggested following the 16-point agreement reached with major political parties earlier, for the formation of the consensus government.

Meanwhile, talking to media person after the meeting, PM Koirala said that the issue of who would lead the new government and how to move ahead would be decided upon in the meeting of Nepali Congress Central Working Committee.

“We will call the meeting of NC central working committee soon and decide on the matter thereafter. We should move ahead to resolve problems,” PM Koirala said.

Likewise, after the meeting, Ishwor Pokharel, General Secretary of CPN-UML, said that discussions were held on the formation of the new government through the spirits of the 16-point agreement and on ending existing political turmoil.

He said that the MPs of fringe political parties suggested moving ahead together to bring existing political crisis to an end.

Similarly, NC leader Mahesh Acharya said that the MPs also suggested ending the restrictions on the Nepal-India border through diplomatic means.

Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Vice Chairman of UCPN (Maoist), said that formation of the new government were discussed in the meeting and that the MPs suggested retaining unity among the major political parties ahead.

He said that UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and top leaders of the UML admitted to the 16-point agreement allowing UML to lead the new government.

The meeting was also attended by NC Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel, NC senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, NC chief whip Chinkaji Shrestha, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, UML Vice Chairpersons Bidya Devi Bhandari and Bamdev Gautam, UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal and UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, among others.

Meanwhile, Human rights and civil society leaders have made a joint appeal to the three major political parties to continue with their unity, in the wake of formation of a new government.

In a joint statement on Monday, civil society leaders Sushil Pyakurel, Kanak Mani Dixit, Charan Prasain and Kapil Shrestha have said that the unity among the NC, UML and UCPN (Maoist) in promulgating the new constitution should be continued during the formation of the next government and also in the implementation of the new constitution. RSS