Kathmandu, 8 April: CPN-UML Chief Madhav Kumar Nepal Monday called for an all-party government to be headed by the largest party in the 601-member constituent assembly of which 240 candidates will be directly elected in controversial assembly elections Thursday.
Nepal, obviously expecting his party to win elections, made the demand after discussing elections and a future government with former US President Jimmy Carter.
Nepal was implicitly demanding change in government leadership after elections indicating his party and Congress could stake claims to lead government.
Both parties have called for a prime ministerial-system of government after the vote.
Chairman Prachanda aspires to become a powerful president and Sher Bahadur Deuba has staked claims to succeed Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala in government and the party.
Foreign governments also expect a government change after election.
" We look to …. cooperate with the Interim Government and with one another to ensure a smooth transition to the new legislature and government, ’ 15 embassies and European Commission said in a joint statement.
A joint statement was issued Monday by: Australia; Canada; Denmark; European Commission; Finland; France; Germany; Israel; Japan; Republic of Korea; Netherlands; Norway; Russia; Switzerland; United Kingdom; United States.
But Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said the present seven-party coalition should continue for another 10 years while Chairman of conservative Rashtriya Janasakti Party has demanded an all-party government.
Congress, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist) are expected to emerge as the three biggest parties in the assembly if the vote is held.
The aim of government and its local and foreign backers, including India and USA, seems to be to hold election at any cost and conduct re-polling in constituencies where violence breaks out disturbing elections.
The Nepal Army has been kept on a full state of alert without Maoist concurrence; it could be deployed on orders of Premier Koirala whose Congress party controls the defence and home ministries.
But unilateral army deployment without Maoist consent could be problematic for the future.
Kathmandu-based embassies called for a last-minute end to violence to conduct meaningful polls Thursday.
"It is critically important that this violence stops, so that the people of Nepal are able to choose their new representatives, free from fear and threat," they said in a joint statement.
They doubted if the election will be fair.
They called the election a ‘historic opportunity to consolidate the peace process and to create a more democratic, inclusive future for their country’.
"We are deeply concerned by the election-related killings, abductions, disturbances and intimidation which continue to take place in parts of the country, despite the agreement among the party leaders to end the violence.
‘We deplore the recent bomb blasts in Kathmandu and elsewhere and condemn those who seek to disrupt the elections.’ the embassies said.
Even after campaigning ended midnight Monday, violence continued unabated Monday throughout the day and it’s likely to continue until election.
Politics will become murkier after election.
More than 30 party activists from Congress, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist) d were injured as they clashed mainly in the hill districts called base areas by Maoists who are unlikely to tolerate the presence of rival parties there.
In Dhading, a curfew was restored after four hours at two in the afternoon following CPN-UML and Congress.
Election Commission said Monday all preparations for the vote has been completed and asked parties to restrain workers and hold assembly election peacefully.
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