Left parties threaten Koirala with no-confidence motion

Unable to break the political logjam, Nepal's two main Left parties - Maoists and CPN(UML) - have threatened to break ranks and form a government on their own after bringing a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Girija P Koirala.During a series of meetings held between Maoist chairman Prachanda and CPN-UML general secretary Jhalanath Khanal since Sunday, the two parties appeared to have reached an understanding over the post of President.While the Maoists will back a CPN-UML candidate for the President, the post of Prime Minister will go the former rebels, according to a proposed deal that will sideline Nepali Congress of Koirala.''Maoists have agreed to give the top post of president to CPN-UML,'' Khanal said over phone after his meeting with Prachanda on Monday.Madhav Kumar Nepal, who has lost election from two constituencies in the April 10 election, is the CPN-UML's possible choice for president, party sources said.''We are trying to forge a consensus to move ahead, but if there is no other alternative we have no choice than forging an alliance with the Maoists,'' Khanal said.If the Seven Party Alliance cannot give solution to the problem, then we must seek solution from the Constituent Assembly, the CPN (UML) leader said.In the 601-member Constituent Assembly, the Maoists have 220 seats and UML has 103 seats.

Unable to break the political logjam, Nepal's two main Left parties - Maoists and CPN(UML) - have threatened to break ranks and form a government on their own after bringing a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Girija P Koirala.During a series of meetings held between Maoist chairman Prachanda and CPN-UML ... ...secretary Jhalanath Khanal since Sunday, the two parties appeared to have reached an understanding over the post of President.While the Maoists will back a CPN-UML candidate for the President, the post of Prime Minister will go the former rebels, according to a proposed deal that will sideline Nepali Congress of Koirala.''Maoists have agreed to give the top post of president to CPN-UML,'' Khanal said over phone after his meeting with Prachanda on Monday.Madhav Kumar Nepal, who has lost election from two constituencies in the April 10 election, is the CPN-UML's possible choice for president, party sources said.''We are trying to forge a consensus to move ahead, but if there is no other alternative we have no choice than forging an alliance with the Maoists,'' Khanal said.If the Seven Party Alliance cannot give solution to the problem, then we must seek solution from the Constituent Assembly, the CPN (UML) leader said.In the 601-member Constituent Assembly, the Maoists have 220 seats and UML has 103 seats. If the two communist parties forge alliance they can surpass the 301 votes required for a simple majority.But for this the Constitution has to be amended, as the current provision requires two-thirds majority for formation of government. However, the support of Nepali Congress, which has 110, will be needed for such a move.The Nepali Congress had been pressing for such an amendment earlier as one of the preconditions for supporting a Maoist-led government.Maoist leader and minister Dev Gurung said ''as the seven party meeting had failed to bring consensus (on government formation), due to the Nepali Congress' stance we must seek solution from the assembly''.He indicated that a no confidence motion might be moved against the Nepali Congress if necessary.''We have asked Prime minister Koirala to resign immediately, as he is in minority now,'' Gurung said.''The CPN-UML ministers had already quit from the cabinet and the Maoist ministers also have resigned from the post, though none of the resignations have been accepted so far,'' Gurung said.The Maoists appeared to be ready to accept CPN (UML) leader Nepal for the post of President but bitterly oppose Koirala's candidacy.''We cannot accept Koirala as the president.... He should pave way for forming a new government,'' Gurung said.Nepali Congress has serious differences with the Maoists, as it has demanded that the leader of the opposition be included in the three-member National Security Council headed by Prime Minister, which will have the power to mobilize the army.But the Maoists have out rightly rejected the suggestion.

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