KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 18

The Nepali Congress today decided to hold formal and informal talks with ruling coalition partners and other parties to form the next government under its leadership.

NC Spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat said at a press briefing after party's Central Working Committee meeting that Pushpa Kamal Dahal, chairman of the CPN- MC, a ruling coalition partner, had expressed desire to become the next prime minister, but since the NC emerged as the largest party in the House of Representatives, it would be appropriate to form the next government under the NC leadership.

Asked who would lead the government from the NC, Mahat said the current situation where the ruling alliance is short of two seats to form the government, required somebody who could play a coordinator's role between the ruling coalition partners and also outside the coalition.

As such NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba is the best candidate to lead the next government, he added.

He said his party would try to elect the parliamentary party leader unanimously to give a positive message about strengthening the coalition, but if consensus could not be forged, election would be held for electing the NC parliamentary party leader.

The NC has formed a three-member committee headed by Bhishmaraj Angdembe to hold election for the parliamentary party leader. Two other members of the committee are Pushpa Bhusal and Prakash Snehi.

The NC also directed its provincial chapters to elect parliamentary party leaders and discuss with other parties about forming governments in provinces under NC leadership or to explore other alternatives if that was not possible. The NC has asked its provincial committees to coordinate with its headquarters about all these issues.

Mahat said the NC would elect its parliamentary party leader on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Other NC leaders - Shekhar Koirala, Gagan Kumar Thapa, and Ramchandra Paudel - have also expressed their desire to contest election for the parliamentary party leader.

Deuba, however, maintains majority in the party and among the newly elected members of the House of Representatives.

Asked when the parties would be able to form the next government, Mahat said the new government would be formed within the deadline set by the president.

A version of this article appears in the print on December 19, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.