Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa has said (that) an agreement has been reached on the new president among the leaders of the five-party alliance that existed prior to December 25.
Leader Thapa has claimed that the parties who were involved in the five-party alliance that was dissolved on December 25 last year have agreed to elect the candidate fielded by the Congress.
According to General Secretary Thapa, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, and Rastriya Janamorcha Nepal have agreed to support the presidential candidate fielded by the NC.
“The top leaders of the then five-party alliance have agreed to support the candidate floated by the NC,” Thapa told Nepalkhabar, “It has yet to be sealed officially. We will move ahead by giving formality to it.”
Meanwhile, he dismissed the rumor that the NC would support Madhav Kumar Nepal as a presidential candidate saying that it was rumored by UML Chairman Oli as a bargaining chip.
“There is no agreement between the Nepali Congress and the Unified Socialist on making Nepal as the president as has been rumored,” Thapa said, “We are clear about the presidential candidate.”
According to him, UML Chairman Oli has started making assurances to the Congress, Maoist Center and Unified Socialist in different ways to break the agreement between the then five-party alliance for the presidential election.
“He is asking Prime Minister Prachanda to run for five years. He is telling Madhav Nepal to become the president," General Secretary Thapa said, "He is also spreading news through various channels that NC and UML should run the government together."
Thapa said that they were aware of the possible political cards that the UML could play at the eleventh hour.
"We are aware that the UML will do all sorts of tricks at the last moment," said General Secretary Thapa, “But we won’t be as stupid this time (February 25) as were on December 25.”
Pramesh Hamal, the vice chairman of Unified Socialist, has also confirmed that there is no possibility for them to move forward together with UML.
Congress senior leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala said that the party is holding intensive discussions with the leaders of the Maoist Center in the run-up to the presidential election. Koirala also added that the Maoist Center will play a pivotal role in the election.
“The Maoist Center plays a key role in the presidential election. We are holding talks closely with the Maoist Center leaders," Koirala said at a press meet organized at the district headquarters, Sindhulimadhi by Nepal Press Union, Sindhuli on Tuesday.
The candidate nominated by NC will become the president in the election to be held on March 9, said Koirala.
