CA to take up president’s instruction for majority govt formation

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 10 Aug: The CA which meets later Sunday will now take up President Dr Ram Baran Yadav’s instructions to form a majority government.
The president issued such an instruction to the assembly after Maoists couldn’t form a consensus government in discussions with the four largest parties in the CA represented by 25 parties.
Maoists held discussions with Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and MJF.
There was no agreement on a common minimum programme and division of ministerial portfolios.
Congress wanted control of the ministry of defence to retain control of Nepal Army.
Congress spokesman Arjun Narsingh KC charged Maoists the CPN-UML was ready to give control of the home ministry to the CPN-UML while keeping away the defence ministry from his party in a government led by Maoists.
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is trying to form a broad democratic front government without Maoists after consultations with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh Colombo and Congress I President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi.
Congress is taking a lead in forming a majority government after it failed to secure four-party support for a Maoist-led government in which Congress would retain control of the ministries of defence and finance.
At a meeting between Koirala and CPN-UML General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal Saturday, Khanal reportedly told Koirala a government without Maoists won’t be workable.
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China wants participation of president or prime minister in Beijing Olympics

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 10 Aug: China wants Nepal’s participation in the Beijing Olympics at the closing ceremony.
President Dr Ram Baran Yadav couldn’t attend the grand opening ceremony after Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala intervened to stop attendance by the head of state.
“Chinese officials have expressed hope that top Nepali leaders will attend the closing session,” Narayan Wagle reported in Sunday’s editions of The Kathmandu Post quoting Nepal’s Ambassador to China Tanka Karki from the Chinese capital.
“I have already conveyed the Chinese government’s message to Kathmandu that either the president or the prime minister attend the closing session,” Karki was quoted as saying.
Phool Maya Kyapchhaki finished 46th among 47 contestants Saturday in Beijing in the women’s 10 meter air rifle shooting event.
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PM, Surya Bahadur Thapa’s midnight Indian embassy visit

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 10 Aug: Aging Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Rashtriya Jajasakti Party Chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa visited the Indian embassy at midnight Wednesday for a two-hour discussion, Chalphal reports.
They decided to form a government under Koirala’s leadership.
After the meeting, Thapa told his close source Indians want a government under Koirala’s leadership.
Thapa and Koirala met the following the following day Thursday at Baluwatar.
They decided formation of a Maoist-led government should be stalled.
Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood told Koirala such a government shouldn’t be formed because Maoist didn’t accept their proposal to elect Koirala president.
Following the meeting, Congress presented additional conditions for government formation.
At a meeting Friday, Congress demanded the control of the ministries of defence and finance.
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Conditions not rife for writing a constitution: Bishwanath Upadhaya explains

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 10 Aug: Former Chief Justice Bishwanath Upadhaya has expressed dissatisfaction with the environment to draft a constitution.
“I won’t join the CA just for a job. I don’t see an environment for drafting a good constitution.
“If such conditions continue, a constitution can’t be drafted.
“Let’s see the situation. The main work is to draft the constitution. If the situation continues, there’s no point in going,” Kantipur reported in its Sunday editions.
Upadhaya hasn’t taken on his appoint appointment by the Congress in the 601-member CA.
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