Kathmandu, April 14:

The next government should be a national government and none of the members of SPA including the CPN-UML should be playing a role of the opposition, according to Dr Shekhar Koirala, central member of the Nepali Congress.

“But this is my personal view and our party is yet to take an official stance on this matter,” he added.

According to Koirala, the next government will only be a by-product of the Constituent Assembly and the main goal of that body is to write a new constitution.

“If any party (of the alliance) stays out of the government and plays a role of the opposition, that would only increase bitterness among the parties and the main goal of writing a new constitution might suffer,” he said, adding that the Maoists were well aware of that complex situation.

“They need a national government also because they do not have international image. I hope that a good sense will prevail among them and they do not dither from the national spirit,” said Koirala.

CPN-Maoists senior leader Mohan Baidhya ‘Kiran’ his party would endeavour to keep intact the spirit of the SPA even as his party has emerged as the single largest party in the CA.

“As the Interim Constitution mandates the seven parties to run the country on the basis of political consensus, we will seriously strive for it,” he added.

Commenting on the CPN-UML’s sudden announcement to exit from the current coalition, he said, “They may have talked of leaving this government in order to be part of a new coalition government.”

Terming the big win for Maoists as a new opportunity for the party, he said: “This is a serious challenge for us but we have taken it positively. We will not run away from our responsibility but would follow the people’s mandate.”

UML leader Raghuji Panta said his party would soon officially decide about its future role.

“But I personally feel that the people have given a message that we should not be a part of the government and our party should therefore not join the next government.” He said his party would now focus on strengthening the organisational base of the party. “However, we will continue to play a positive role in the republican alliance,” he said.

Asked if their role of opposition would make things difficult for the Maoists, he said, “It is their (Maoists’) concern.”