PM’s address creates rift in party; other details (DEVELOPING NEWS)

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 2 May; Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal’s address to the nation Saturday has created a rift in his party the UML as the party’s 60 lawmakers presented a memorandum to president Jhalanath Khanal Sunday charging the government chief’s address invited confrontation and civil war.
Influential members Bamdeb Gautam and Sahana Pradhan were among the signatories.
The called for the immediate resignation of the premier and asked Khanal to create an atmosphere to reverse to reserve a slide towards chaos.
Only 26 days remain to promulgate a constitution to formally institutionalize a constitution.
No party is talking of completing the constitution within the 28 May deadline which certainly won’t be met.
Uncertainty prevails on the future with layers divided on what will happen when the deadline isn’t met.
The assembly was empowered to complete a draft of a republican structure in two years through direct elections.
Some lawyers suggest the tenure of the assembly can be extended while others argue another vote should be ordered as the mandate to complete a constitution has a clear two-year headline.
Maoist Chairman Saturday charged the premier ‘roared’ and acted like an ‘inflated balloon’ after returning from Bhutan last week with Indian government support after a meeting with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh.
nnnn