Kathmandu, December 15

CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli and CPN-Maoist Centre Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal agreed to move the processes of forming a new government and unifying their parties simultaneously.

CPN-MC leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha told mediapersons today that Oli and Dahal reached the agreement in their first meeting after the left alliance clinched impressive victory in the provincial and parliamentary elections.

A CPN-MC source said on condition of anonymity that moving the processes of unification and government formation simultaneously meant that the leaders of the two parties would decide which leader would hold what position in the government and the party.

Another CPN-MC source said both leaders were of the view that although there were some shortcomings in some constituencies, both the parties, however, supported each other’s candidates in most of the parliamentary and provincial first-past-the-post constituencies and the results of elections were as per their expectations.

The source said both leaders agreed to come up with their common stances on government formation and the National Assembly elections after consulting lawyers.

Nepali Congress leaders have said that the National Assembly elections should be held before the formation of a new government while the UML leaders say the Upper House election should be held only after forming a new government.

Both leaders also agreed to consult their respective parties’ leaders on how to proceed with unification process.

A CPN-MC source said CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel’s statement that ‘only one person would lead both the party and the government’ was not discussed between Oli and Dahal. “We were surprised by Pokharel’s statement, but I do not think anything would spoil the environment of unity now,” the leader added.

Oli’s personal aide Chetan Adhikari said both leaders decided to instruct their parties’ leaders not to speak in a way that could vitiate the environment of unity.

According to a press release issued by Dahal’s private secretariat, both leaders concluded that provincial and parliamentary polls were successfully conducted and the left alliance was able to bring the desired results.  The release added that both leaders agreed to strengthen the process of unification. “Discussions were very positive. Both leaders agreed to move ahead by completing ground work,” read the release.

Oli’s aide Adhikari said both leaders also dwelt on the controversy created by the Nepali Congress over the formation of a new government and political appointments made by the caretaker government. Adhikari said both leaders decided to urge the NC to pave the way for the formation of a new government.