Madhesi parties root for unity govt

Kathmandu, July 26:

Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party and Sadbhawana Party leaders separately met President Dr Ram Baran Yadav today and suggested that he invite the political parties to form a consensus government.

According to TMDP leader Sarbendra Nath Shukla, the President inquired about appropriate measures to follow for the formation of a new government.

“The President wanted to know what would reflect a consensus — the support of all 25 political parties of the Constituent Assembly or a lesser number,” Shukla said. He added that his party was in favour of the first.

“We told the President to call the largest party, CPN-Maoist, to form the government in case the parties could not forge a consensus government,” he said.

TMDP also told the President to take note of the support of parliamentary party leaders to determine who commands a majority in the House, if a majoritarian government was to be formed. Shukla said his party wanted all big parties — particularly the Maoists, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML — to be part of the new government.

Any other combination may affect the peace process, feared Shukla.

MJF chairman Upendra Yadav and Sadbhawana leaders also urged the President to facilitate the formation of a consensus government.

MJF leader BP Yadav said his party suggested the President to let any political party to lead the government if it secures a majority in the CA if the Maoists did not want to lead the government.

“The constitution gives priority to consensus over a majoritarian rule. Therefore, we told the President to call the political parties to form a consensus government,” SP leader Rajendra Mahato said.

He said the President needed to hold talks with the political parties before inviting them to form a consensus government as the constitutional provision was not clear as to how the President should invite the parties to form a government.

The President also held meeting with CPN-ML leader CP Mainali today.

Mainali said his party suggested the President to invite the Maoists to form a national coalition government.

“We suggested him to invite the Maoists to form a government after taking NC, CPN-UML and MJF into confidence,” he told this daily.

The President has begun intense parleys with political leaders and legal experts to follow a right constitutional course on government formation.