Kathmandu: Opposition Maoists have stepped
up consultations with smaller parties, apparently in a bid to
secure their support for launching a no-trust motion against
the coalition government of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
The Unified CPN-Maoist Maoist party, which has 238 seats
in the 601-strong Constituent Assembly, needs another 63 MPs
for the approval of a vote of no confidence.
Besides Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF), which has
25 seats, the Maoists are holding consultations with smaller
leftist parties, whose combined strength in Parliament is over
12.
Though Maoist leaders, including Prachanda, have denied
that they are preparing for a no-trust motion, political
analysts said their activities are directed at dislodging the
present dispensation headed by CPN-UML of Premier Nepal.
The Maoists have collected signatures of their MPs to
demand a special session of Parliament and asked them not to
leave the capital.
Out of 25 political parties having representation in the
Constituent Assembly, 16 are with the ruling alliance and
nine with the Maoists, sources said.
MPRF President Upendra Yadav has said that his party is
in favour of forming a national unity government, with the
inclusion of the Maoists.
"There is no other alternative than forming a national
unity government if we are to resolve the current political
stalemate," he told agency.
The party is currently busy holding consultations with
the Maoists in this regard.
The MPRF is the only Madhei party which is close to the
Maoists. Other three Madhesi parties -- MPRF-Democratic,
Terai Madhes Democratic Party and Sadbhavana Party -- are part
of the coalition government.
Formation of a national unity government is a must to
take the peace process to its logical end, manage the
Maoist combatants and draft the new Constitution, Yadav said.
He, however, said his party has not yet decided whether
it would support any move by the Maoists to go in for a
no-trust motion against the government.
"We are still discussing the matter within the party,"
Yadav said.
However, without breaking the ruling alliance, the
Maoists would not be in a position to topple the government,
according to political analysts.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, March 18, 2010, 17:47