Madesh front defers decision; PM Nepal, Jhalanath Khanal meet

Kathmandu, 1 Aug: A meeting of a front of four Madesh parties Sunday evening was inconclusive on which party to support in Monday’s election for prime minister.
Madhav Kumar Nepal has been acting as caretaker prime minister for exactly one month following pressure from Maoists to resign.
The front will meet at nine in the morning Tuesday to decide its position.
It could abstain in the voting after NC and Maoists. who are fielding candidates, rejected demand for One Madesh, One Pradesh and collective recruitment of the terai community in Nepal Army.
The divided front in a split vote could vote for NC or Maoists.
Upendra Yadav of MJFN could vote for Maoists; a split vote of the front won’t ensure Maoist victory.
NC is in a weak position.
It’s victory isn’t ensured even with a split vote in the UML and the Madesh front.
The vote Monday will probably be inconclusive.
UML has decided formally to abstain in voting.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Sunday held discussions with his archrival and party Chairman Jhalanath Khanal ahead of Monday’s vote.
Nepal supports NC while Khanal favours an alliance with Maoists to usher in communist rule.
One faction in UML led by Nepal and KP Sharma Oli advocates a working arrangement with NC.
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