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Nepal parties reject Thapa`s offer to join ministry
Kathmandu, June 08: Nepal`s Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa`s efforts to expand his one-man cabinet suffered a setback today as leaders of major political parties refused to join the new ministry and continued with their agitation against the royal takeover.
Kathmandu, June 08: Nepal's Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa's efforts to expand his one-man cabinet suffered a setback today as leaders of major political parties refused to join the new ministry and continued with their agitation against the royal takeover.
Thapa today met with Madhav Kumar Nepal, general-secretary of Nepal Communist Party (UML) and Sher Bahadur Deuba, president of Nepali Congress (Democratic) and offered berth in his ministry.
He had already met Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala and asked for his party's support.
However, major parties have turned down Thapa's offer to join the cabinet.
Koirala advised Thapa to ask king Gyanendra to revive the House of Representatives, which is the only outlet of the present political crisis. He told journalists late yesterday that he would support the government if parliament is reconvened or elections held.
Though Thapa has claimed that his government possesses full executive power as demanded by the agitating parties, the parties have not yet recognised the government calling it illegitimate as democratic norms and values were breached while forming the government.
The political parties continued the fourth phase of their anti-government agitation and halted all the government vehicles across the country.
They have earlier proposed UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal as their candidate for the Prime Minister.
The five parties, which represent 85 per cent seats in the dissolved House of Representatives, have asked the king to form the government as per the strength in the parliament.
Bureau Report
He had already met Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala and asked for his party's support.
However, major parties have turned down Thapa's offer to join the cabinet.
Koirala advised Thapa to ask king Gyanendra to revive the House of Representatives, which is the only outlet of the present political crisis. He told journalists late yesterday that he would support the government if parliament is reconvened or elections held.
Though Thapa has claimed that his government possesses full executive power as demanded by the agitating parties, the parties have not yet recognised the government calling it illegitimate as democratic norms and values were breached while forming the government.
The political parties continued the fourth phase of their anti-government agitation and halted all the government vehicles across the country.
They have earlier proposed UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal as their candidate for the Prime Minister.
The five parties, which represent 85 per cent seats in the dissolved House of Representatives, have asked the king to form the government as per the strength in the parliament.
Bureau Report