Left parties getting stronger, says Khanal

Kathmandu, November 14:

Standing committee member of the CPN-UML, Jhalanath Khanal, today said the Jana Andolan II has made two Communist parties of Nepal stronger.

“The 19-day popular movement has encouraged two larger Communist parties,” Khanal said at an interaction here, indicating at his own UML and the CPN-Maoist — two Left parties to get a major share in the interim legislature to be formed soon. He warned of “possible conspiracies” from both the internal as well as external forces to “make some twists” in the interim constitution, which is yet to be finalised.

Regarding the 48 out of the 330 seats in the interim parliament, Khanal said: “Since this is not a major issue, eight political parties (alliance and the Maoists) can resolve it.”

Khanal said the question of leadership of the interim government was not a major issue. “We have not out-rightly rejected NC president GP Koirala as the interim Prime Minister. The issue is that this has to be an issue of consensus,” he added.

Central member of the CPN-Maoist, Devendra Poudel (alias Sunil), accused what he said “a foreign power centre” of trying to establish its military base in Nepal.

He blamed monarchy for conspiring against the current political development.

Saying that the main agenda of the interim government would be to conduct an election to a constituent assembly, Sunil said only CA could establish republican set-up in Nepal.

C P Mainali of the United Left Front said his party should get significant share, at least 6 seats, in the interim legislature.