PM’S election process postponed

Kathmandu, June 4: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, the lone candidate in the prime ministerial race, could not be elected to the Prime Minister as the Parliament failed to meet despite the publication of election schedule today.
The meeting of the House has been put off till 13:00 pm on June 6 to forge consensus among the major political parties.
Today’s House meeting could not convene as the main opposition CPN (UML) did not budge from its stance of obstructing the House meeting during a three-party meet held upon the call of Speaker Onsari Gharti.
The major political parties have however agreed to hold bilateral and multilateral and intraparty talks to reach a conclusion, it is said.
After the meeting, Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel said that the process for PM’s election was deferred for some days.
The UML leaders have warned to obstruct the House business terming the Election Commission’s move wrong in regard to the election of the Bharatpur Metropolitan City.
PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, PM candidate Sher Bhaadur Deuba and other leaders are learnt to have urged the UML leaders not to obstruct the House proceedings.
The date for the PM’s selection was postponed after both the sides could not come together.
UML leader Subash Nembang however said the major opposition was not informed about the election of new PM. It rather learnt from media, he argued.
According to him, the election of the PM was delayed by two more days for garnering all sides’ agreement.
Similarly, senior leader of the UML Jhalanath Khanal said the parliament meeting was postponed on their proposal.
For two days, the political parties would hold extensive discussion to forge consensus, he added.
The schedule to elect new PM was affected after the ruling parties demanded quick formation of new government reasoning the country was to hold the second round of local level election, while the major opposition stood against running parliament meeting without addressing their demands.
The Parliament Secretariat had fixed the schedule to election PM at 11:00 am today. As the parties did not reach agreement, the meeting was postponed till 15:00pm. Later, it was postponed again.
Energy Minister and leader of the CPN (Maoist Centre), Janardan Sharma, said the Parliament meeting was postponed as a mid way solution of the problems after the political parties failed to reach a conclusion despite repeated efforts.
Major ruling parties Nepali Congress and the Maoist Centre had strongly directed its lawmakers not to leave the parliament building but had to return home without electing the PM.
The meeting was attended by PM Dahal, NC President Deuba, senior leader Poudel, UML Chairman KP Oli, senior leader Jhalanath Khanal, leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal and Bam Dev Gautam among others. RSS