Kathmandu, March 13

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today assured Naya Shakti Party-Nepal leaders that he would champion the cause of directly elected president.

He said this to NSN leaders, including its coordinator Baburam Bhattarai when they went to submit one million signatures collected in favour of presidential system of governance.

Leaders and cadres associated with the party had staged a sit-in at Maitighar Mandala before submitting signatures to the PM.

According to a press release issued by the PM’s Secretariat, the PM told the NSN leaders that although he favoured directly elected president and full inclusion, he had to accept the constitution without guaranteeing these things for he  did not have two-thirds majority in favour of these agendas. He said his party registered its reservation on the constitution in favour of the two issues and he would again raise those issues in the days ahead.

He stated forces favouring directly elected president should collaborate with each other and raise this issue in the next general elections. He said that the government was trying to hold polls after amending the constitution to address issues raised by Madhesis, Janajatis and Tharus, according to the release.