Left alliance keen to include FSF-N in new govt

Kathmandu December 28

The left alliance formed by the CPN-UML and the CPN-Maoist Centre has made an understanding to form the new government including Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal.

UML is likely to win 121 seats in the House of Representatives, CPN-MC 53 and FSF-N 16. If the three form a coalition government, they will have 190 lawmakers, more than two-third majority in a 275-member House.

The FSF-N has, however, said that it can join the new government only if the constitution is amended to address the demands of Madhesis and Janajatis.

Left alliance sources said UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli told CPN-MC Chariman Pushpa Kamal Dahal yesterday that he favoured including FSF-N in the new government to give a message to Madhesis that he was not against them. CPN-MC leader Devendra Paudel said Dahal shared this information with CPN-MC leaders who participated in the meeting at his residence today.

Dahal had told party cadres in Nawalpur a few days ago that UML wanted to form the new government with the support from the FSF-N and it turned to CPN-MC only after the FSF-N rejected UML’s proposal. According to Paudel, Oli told Dahal yesterday that he met FSF-N Chair Yadav not to exclude the CPN-MC from the new government.

Oli and Dahal were to meet today to discuss government formation and party unification in detail but could not do so due to Oli’s poor health and UML Standing Committee meeting.

According to CPN-MC Spokesperson Pampha Bhusal, both leaders want to form a new government immediately after the Election Commission submits election results to President Bidhya Devi Bhandari.

According to Bhusal, Dahal will urge Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to call an all-party meeting again to forge consensus on the National Assembly Election Ordinance. Although the government sent the ordinance to the president two months ago, the head of state has not okayed it yet.

Dahal met President Bhandari today before holding a party meeting and told her that he was in favour of holding an all-party meeting again to end deadlock on the ordinance.

CPN-MC is not against single transferable voting system to elect National Assembly members as proposed by the government.

President requested Dahal to help forge consensus among national parties on the ordinance, according to President’s Personal Secretary Bhesh Raj Adhikari. “Fresh mandate has emerged and parties are divided on the ordinance. The issue should be resolved through consensus,” Adhikari quoted the president as telling Dahal.

NC leaders are against President Bhandari holding consultations on the ordinance, saying she does not have the power to reject the ordinance.

According to sources, the president is likely to take a call on the issue within a week.