Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said he is trying to take main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) into confidence in an effort to forge a national consensus.
Following meetings with Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel this morning, Prime Minister Dahal said he is making efforts to seek national consensus by keeping the ruling alliance intact.
“It seems unlikely to have a national consensus without electing the president fielded by the Nepali Congress,” Haribol Gajurel, Political Advisor to the prime minister, quoted Dahal as saying. “I am trying to forge national consensus by keeping the current ruling alliance intact.”
Dahal said he will render efforts for national consensus until February 25, the day for filing nominations for the presidential election.
When asked whether there would be a national consensus in the name of Madhav Nepal, Gajurel said the NC’s role would be decisive.
"I don't think that the NC will accept the candidate fielded by us," he added. The consensus is likely on the candidate fielded by the NC itself,” said he.
RSP Chairman Lamichhane and Finance Minister Paudel met with the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ at Baluwatar this morning.
NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba met with Prime Minister Dahal at Baluwatar on Sunday evening. In the meeting, Deuba asked Dahal to extend help in the presidential election.
In response, Dahal said he would give him the decision only after holding an office-bears’ meeting.
Maoist Center is holding an office-bears’ meeting today afternoon to take an official decision on the presidential candidature.
Dahal has been reiterating a national consensus for the presidential candidate while CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli has been saying that the president should be elected from UML in line with the agreement reached with the ruling coalition.
