Kathmandu: Notwithstanding objection from
Maoist chief Prachanda, leaders of the ruling CPN-UML and NC
on Wednesday decided to include Premier Madhav Kumar Nepal in a key
mechanism tasked with taking the peace process to its logical
conclusion and making efforts to break the political deadlock.
The three-member High-Level Political Mechanism (HLPM) so
far comprised Nepali Congress (NC) President Girija Prasad
Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and Maoist leader
Prachanda.
Koirala and Khanal held crucial talks here in an attempt
to resolve the ongoing political stalemate and also decided to
include Prime Minister Nepal as an invitee in the political
mechanism.
Their meeting came a day after Prachanda expressed the
view that it was not necessary to induct the Prime Minister as
a member in the mechanism.
Koirala and Khanal also discussed the latest political
situation and ways to resolve the deadlock. They explored ways
to further expand the political mechanism headed by Koirala by
including representatives from smaller parties.
The high-level mechanism was formed earlier this month to
take the peace process to a logical conclusion, draft the
Constitution within the stipulated timeframe of May, 2010 and
resolve the political crisis.
Earlier, Prachanda ruled out the possibility of inclusion
of the Prime Minister in the body.
It is wrong to say that Premier Nepal should be included
in the political mechanism because it was the issue of
government formation that caused political deadlock, he said
at a function in Dhangadhi in western Nepal.
Prachanda asked the Prime Minister "not to be terrorised"
as the body was formed not to change the leadership of the
government but to end the deadlock and expedite the task of
drafting the Constitution by concluding the peace process.
PTI
