Kathmandu, May 5

Unified CPN-Maoist Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who had reached an understanding with the Nepali Congress to form a new government under his leadership, today did a volte-face, claim Nepali Congress sources.

When NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba went to meet Dahal to discuss bilateral agreement on the formation of a new government, Dahal told Deuba that he was not in a position to form new government under his leadership at this stage, said NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi, who was with Deuba in the meeting.

NC lawmaker Ramesh Lekhak was also present in the meeting.

Nidhi said the NC leaders were surprised by Dahal’s move and felt betrayed because the understanding between the two parties was that they would seal a bilateral deal today after which the UCPN-M would withdraw support to KP Sharma Oli-led government and prepare joint strategies on the course to be followed.

According to Nidhi, Dahal cited two main reasons to decline the offer of premiership: non-formation of Parliamentary Regulations and lack of consensus within his party.

According to Nidhi, Dahal told Deuba that barring two-three members of UCPN-M Standing Committee all spoke against changing the KP Sharma Oli led government.

Dahal said the ruling parties, particularly the CPN-UML, were threatening to dissolve the house to hold fresh election or obstruct the Parliament to block any attempt to register a no trust motion.

According to Nidhi, Dahal said views of majority in the party’s Standing Committee was that if the coalition government was unseated, it could pose challenges in the implementation of the constitution.

Nidhi wondered why Dahal, who had the opportunity to form a new government under his leadership, failed to capitalise on the opportunity.

Nidhi said it was a failure of Dahal to convince his own party leaders to form a new government under his leadership.

Unified CPN-Maoist Narayan Kaji Shrestha said his party got a positive response from the CPN-UML about forming a national consensus government under his party’s leadership.

Shrestha said Oli conveyed to his party that he wanted to continue as executive chief until the presentation of the new fiscal budget. When asked if the UCPN-M would form a new government under its leadership after the presentation of the budget Shrestha said time was not important for his party but the key agendas were.

He said the key agendas that his party wanted to address included completing the remaining task of the peace process and finding a negotiated settlement of Madhes agitation.

Shrestha said his party did not want the NC to lose trust that it placed on the UCPN-M to take the mantle of the government.

A source said UML Vice Chair Bamdev Gautam met UCPN-M Chair Dahal and convinced him to become the PM with the support of the left forces and not NC.

Gautam told Dahal that after the presentation of the budget, both parties could iron out their differences.

The source said both leaders agreed to keep the current left alliance intact.