Sapkota not adverse to 'sincere' NC-led govt

THT ONLINE

KATHMANDU: Minister for Information and Communication Agni Prasad Sapkota said that UCPN-Maoist is the obvious choice to lead a national consensus government being the largest party. However he added that the party would accept a government formed under Nepali Congress provided the NC’s sincerity is not in doubt.

Speaking at an interaction programme he said that though the party claimed the leadership in the new government it is yet to decide who the party would choose as the prime ministerial candidate. He said either of the vice chairmen Dr. Baburam Bhattarai or Narayan Kaji Shrestha could become the new prime minister.

On the occasion he said that Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal should not resign before an alternative leadership in the national consensus government is declared. The county will plunge into crisis if Khanal resigns from his post without it.

He stressed on the need of completing the constitution drafting process within the extended time of CA and termed it unethical to start thinking about another extension of the CA term at present.

He said that the internal conflict within the Maoist party has not affected the peace process but said that the pace has fallen short of expectations.