Surkhet, May 19 :

A senior Maoist leader, CP Gajurel, today said the country should be declared a republic from the street if the parliament cannot declare a republic.

Addressing a mass meet organised by the Surkhet chapter of the CPN (Maoist) in Birendranagar, constituent assembly (CA) polls can no more be the ground for unity between the seven parties and the Maoists as the polls will not be held in mid-June. “The parties should agree to declare a republic from parliament. This can be the new ground for unity,” he said.

Unity of the eight parties should be further strengthened, he said.