INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
CHITWAN, DECEMBER 19CPN (Maoist Centre) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that his party has not proposed for
any 'bottom line' with regards to his party's leading the government
Nepal's main party leading in poll results but no majority
Maoist Chair Prachanda votes in Chitwan
He said
this while addressing a news conference organised by the Press Centre Nepal Chitwan Chapter here today.
The Maoist Centre
Chair reiterated that his party was for moving ahead through consensus and understanding as regards the government formation and there was
no so-called 'bottom line' demanded by the party on this."If the offer for heading the next government comes our way through an
understanding among the parties, it is acceptable
It might also be otherwise through an understanding," he said.Stating that there was no any written or formal understanding on this among
the coalition before this, the Maoist Centre Chair said," It was said while forming the coalition to lead the government turn by turn and
this understanding stands now as well."Former Prime Minister Dahal further said that the seat-sharing among the parties in connection to the
President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Speaker and Deputy Speaker should be immediately finalized in a package as per the understanding
He added that the Prime Minister would be from within the coalition partners and the coalition would hold a meeting and finalize this
matter.Reiterating that the Maoist Centre is very much with the coalition, he said, "I have never put everything on stake for the post of
I have only talked of shouldering the responsibility if an opportunity came from the coalition for taking the country's leadership."There is
no talk, as you have heard, within the coalition, the Maoist Centre top leader said, adding that discussions are underway amongst all
parties after the elections
He however clarified that he has not 'involved himself in the race for Prime Minister'
"If the responsibility for this comes, I will take it up."Chair Dahal said that there is no situation for appointing an apolitical
individual as the President and this topic has not been discussed within the coalition or the political parties any side
According to him, this was also not possible at present.Stating that all were having discussions with other parties, including the CPN
(UML), he said discussions are also on with the new parties as well
Leader Dahal disclosed that talks have been held with the Chairperson of the Rastriya Swatantra Party two or three times
He added that he has also met with CK Raut and Resham Chaudhary.Regarding the possibility of party unification with the CPN (UML), the
Maoist Centre Chair said talks have not been held on this topic as have circulated in media
"No formal and official talks have been held."Commenting on the topic of the ordinance brought by the government, he said only the political
agreements and understandings reached before this have been addressed through the ordinance."The government has only tried to address the
understandings the State had reached in the past with the Madhes-centric parties, the CPN led by Biplav and the Tharu Welfare Assembly
This is a normal process," he clarified.Making an assessment of the party's standing in the election, the Maoist Centre Chair said that
compared to the 2017 elections, the Maoist Centre has garnered more votes in the local level in this election, and votes that the party
secured in the provinces is at a par with the votes it secured in the past.He added that although the number of votes for his party has
somewhat decreased towards the proportional representation electoral system, it was in less proportion compared to that of the CPN (UML) and
Nepali Congress.Stating the number of votes garnered by the party in the federal level is less than expectation, Chair Dahal said this is
being evaluated by the party
"We have concluded that this assessment has given us an opportunity to further make the party stronger
It is being said the Maoist Centre has become very weak after the election
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com