Dahal makes light of ordinance rejection

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

NEPALGUNJ: Chairman of the Unified CPN-Maoist, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, today made a dramatic turnaround: He said the Nepali Congress could lead the next government as per the five-point deal and that President Ram Baran Yadav’s move to reject election ordinances was no big deal.

Dahal, however, caveated his statement on possibility of NC-led government with the need of political consensus. Rather interesting was his second statement in which he did not scorn the President’s move to block the ordinances, even as his party is planning to mobilise people to protest the move.

His party, the UCPN-Maoist, on Saturday had condemned the President’s decision to put the kibosh on ordinances and declared that the party would mobilise people all across the country to protest the move. “It was quite superfluous on the part of the government to send the ordinances when it was obvious that elections on the said date were not possible. The rejection (by the President) is no big deal,” said Dahal at a training programme organised by Tharuwan State Conference Organising Committee in Chisapani of Banke.

Even though Dahal said NC could lead the next government, he did not miss the opportunity to lash out at NC President Sushil Koirala. “Koirala is the major stumbling block to national consensus,” said Dahal. “NC-led government is possible only after consensus, but the incumbent government will not step down without forging consensus,” he added.

But nevertheless, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, who was also present at the same programme, tried to defend the government move of bringing the ordinances. “The government had no option but to bring the ordinances to clear the legal and constitutional hurdles to hold polls,” argued Bhattarai. He said it was unfortunate that the President rejected the ordinances. “The ceremonial President should have sent the ordinances back for he cannot reject the ordinances presented by the Cabinet,” said Bhattarai.