At a time when the parties are fighting for the presidency, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said the parties who reached the twelve-point agreement should stand untied yet again.
"The political parties that joined their hands during the twelve-point agreement, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the writing of the constitution, it is necessary for those powers to stand united again. That is why we are seeking a national consensus on the president and vice president," said Prachanda, while addressing a program in Pokhara on Monday (February 20).
Some leaders have speculated that Prachanda is trying to float the name of Madhav Kumar Nepal, chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist) for the presidency. The then UML General Secretary Nepal played an important role in bringing the Maoists into peaceful politics. He reached India and met Maoist leaders Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai. On that foundation, the federal democratic republic was established in Nepal in accordance with the 12-point agreement.
Prachanda had told NC leaders on Sunday that there is a possibility that UML will propose the name of Nepal.
Oli's 'Plan B' Nepal
The ruling CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli is taking a stand that the president should be from his own party. He argues that he supported Prachanda as the Prime Minister because of an understanding with the Maoist Center that would give the President and Speaker to their party on December 25.
For this reason, Prime Minister Prachanda and Oli have met 23 times from Baluwatar to Balkot. The secretariat of the two leaders is saying that the president's issue is discussed in every meeting but no agreement has been reached so far.
Prachanda is not ready to give the president to UML. That is why there have been speculations that the ruling coalition will not last for a long time.
The second rung UML leaders are discussing and negotiating with the leaders of various levels of the NC, Maoist Center, and Unified Socialist among others.
Leaders say that if the candidate fielded by UML does not become president, Chairman Oli can put forward Nepal's name as 'Plan B'.
Prithvi Subba Gurung, Deputy General Secretary and chief of Publicity Department of UML, said that it would be easier to accept Nepal as the President rather than the leaders of other parties.
"Contingency in politics creates certain strategies," Gurung told Nepalkhabar, "We would rather accept Madhav Nepal than Ramchandra Poudel or Mahantha Thakur."
However, he says that Nepal should join the ruling coalition on this condition. The Nepal-led Unified Socialist is currently in opposition.
NC has indicated that it would propose the names Ramchandra Paudel, Krishna Sitaula as the candidates for presidency. NC lost almost everything due to not making Prachanda the prime minister, is trying to return to power with the presidential election. It has already offered to go together with Prachanda, admitting that it made a mistake in the past.
Madhav Nepal ready to become president
If UML president Oli proposes to make Madhav Nepal the president, he is ready to take up the position, the leaders of the Unified Socialist said. However, they say that there should be a national consensus on that.
"If Madhav is proposed for the presidency, he is ready," the leader, who is also an office-bearer of the United Socialist, told Nepalkhabar.
"He will move forward only if there is a common candidate of all three parties to forge national consensus," he added.
However, it is unlikely that both UML and NC will stand together, the leader added. Chairman Nepal is still not convinced with UML.
On Monday afternoon (February 20), Prime Minister Prachanda and chairman Nepal held a one-and-a-half-hour-long discussion at Singh Darbar.
“UML cannot be given the presidency," the leader close to Nepal said, quoting Nepal's statement to Prachanda, "previous incidents have shown that." “Please do not give up your stance, we have also given you a vote of confidence.”
There is also a possibility that UML can make Madhav Nepal the president to unify the party.
