KATHMANDU: Leaders of different political parties today welcomed the resignation of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and emphasised the need to form a national unity government to write the new constitution and take the peace process to a logical conclusion.

Speaking at an interaction here today, Rastriya Prajatantra Party chairman Pashupati Shumsher Rana said it would be better for the country if a national consensus government is formed in this period of crisis.

“I hope the Maoists will also help to find a way out to this problem and help adopt new constitution and take the peace process to a logical conclusion,” Rana said.

Rana also said the UCPN-Maoist took a wrong decision on the army chief issue. “They argued on the basis of the army law which was not updated as per the fourth amendment of the interim constitution. The President took the right decision,” he said.

Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani, co-chairperson of the Rastriya Janashakti Party, said the President took the right decision on a right time.

“This decision has enhanced the dignity of the President and the army chief. Civil supremacy doesn’t mean that a party can do whatever it wants,” he said, adding, “The government should move ahead as per the law and constitution of the country.” He also said the PM lacked the capacity to forge a consensus among political parties.

Dr Lohani, however, said that Maoists still had a great role to play in terms of writing a new constitution and taking the peace process to a logical conclusion.

Nepali Congress leader Dr Minendra Rijal said the PM had failed to foster the politics of consensus. “The PM was bent on weakening democratic norms and peace process. It is senseless to blame President and

pull him into controversy,” he said, emphasising the need of a national unity government.

CPN-ML president CP Mainali said the PM had no other left after the parties withdrew their support.

“The political parties should move ahead as per the spirit of seven-party alliance, comprehensive peace accord and interim constitution,” he said.

He also said things would become easier if the Maoist joined the to-be-formed national unity government.

Politburo member of the UCPN-Maoist Devendra Poudel said the party would not join the government. “The PM resigned to institutionalise the democratic system and civil supremacy,” he said.