Kathmandu, June 05: The appointment of Surya Bahadur Thapa as the new Nepalese premier has sparked fresh agitation in the Himalayan Kingdom with the agitating parties refusing to join the government which "lacks popular representations". Earlier the five major parties had unanimously proposed the name of CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal for prime ministership, which the was turned down by the king. "We have not recognised this government and will not join the ministry," said Nepali Congress spokesperson Arjun Narsingh K C. "Our joint agitation will continue as per the schedule. This is an undemocratic exercise to keep aside proposals made by five parties, whose combined strength is more than three fourth in the dissolved house of representatives," he said.

Narsingh also demanded the dissolved house be reinstated and the government be formed with the representation of parties having majority in the house.
"The appointment of Thapa as Prime Minister has made democracy and multiparty system a joke," said Bharat Mohan Adhikari, standing committee member of CPN-UML.


The parties have never recommended Thapa's name for premiership during their joint audience, he said.

"King Gyanendra has breached the constitution by not appointing Madhav Kumar Nepal Prime Minister even if his name was proposed by parties that command 90 per cent votes in the dissolved Parliament, he added.

"Constitution cannot be reactivated without reviving the house of representatives, NC leader Ramchandra Poudyal said.

"The appointment of Thapa is an unsuccessful attempt to foil our joint agitation. We will intensify the agitation and not let the government to function," he said.

Bureau Report