Pyuthan, March 9:

UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said here today the Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala would be responsible if the Constituent Assembly poll was not held by mid-June.

Addressing a gathering organised by the Pyuthan chapter of CPN (UML), Nepal said: “If the CA poll is not held timely, the Prime Minister should be held responsible for it.”

Terming the “nexus” between Nepali Congress (NC) and Maoists as unholy, Nepal accused both of attempting to protect the king. Stressing that the UML was always for the abolition of monarchy, Nepal wondered whether the NC is ready for it or not.

Nepal termed the Maoists “new hermits” and their activities as “new hermits smearing more ashes”.

Delaying the formation of interim government would defer the CA poll, Nepal said. He argued that it was wrong to involve the Maoists in the government as they have not submitted all of their weapons, adding that they also were flaunting weapons and not creating an atmosphere for displaced people to return.

UML alternative central member Prakash Jwala apprehended that the Maoists, under the influence of NC president Koirala, were running a campaign to protect the monarchy.