Rana urges PM not to ignore RPP

Kathmandu, October 21:

Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) chairman Pashupati SJB Rana met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at his official residence in Baluwatar today.

“I told Prime Minister Koirala not to disregard RPP, the third largest party in the House, while making political and other major decisions,” Rana told The Himalayan Times after the meeting. Rana said Koirala has assured him that RPP will be taken into confidence while making major decisions. “I told PM that we should have our share and say in major decisions,” Rana said. Rana added that the RPP should also have representation at the local government bodies.

The latest meeting comes at a time when the seven-party alliance and the Maoists are trying to overcome differences and usher the nation into an interim phase. “I was there (in Baluwatar) to greet the Prime Minister on the eve of Deepawali. I also wished him success in the peace talks,” Rana said.

Meanwhile, claiming that the party leadership was yet to assess its possible role during the interim phase, RPP joint general secretary Khem Raj Pandit said the party will be convening a meeting of its central committee after Tihar holidays. The meeting will analyse the current situation and draw up a strategy accordingly.

An RPP source, however, said the issue (the role of RPP in the interim government) did not figure during the one-hour talk with Koirala this morning.

In his talks with Koirala, Rana stressed the need to go for a system of proportional representation when conducting elections to a constituent assembly. Rana said the Prime Minister took his demands positively. During the meeting with the PM, Rana also expressed concern over “deteriorating” law and order situation.