VOTNG FOR PM WEDNESDAYAMID FLUID POLITICAL SITUATION

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 12 Jan.: Seventeenth round of parliamentary voting for prime minister to succeed Caretaker Madhav Kumar Nepal will be held at two in the afternoon amid a fluid and uncertain political situation.
NC and UML have issued whips to the lawmakers to be present in the legislature/parliament and cast their ballots.
The UML standing committee rejected a NC request to support the candidate of Vice-president and parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel –the sole candidate in the race to succeed Nepal who continues for more than six months after resigning 30 June 2010.
Nepal has been vehemently opposing publicly a Maoist-led government.
UML standing committee Tuesday endorsed a central committee decision to vote against the candidature of Paudel.
Following the UML decision, a NC delegation drove to Baluwatar and threatened Nepal again the party will withdraw from government and snap ties with UML.
The UML standing committee rejected a request of PM Nepal for
another central committee meeting to reconsider a decision to vote down Paudel.
UML is divided between camps of Nepal and Chairman Jhanalnath Khanal the voting issue.
An influential group led Nepal and KP Sharma Oli are pushing a left-NC coalition while Khanal urges a national government with Maoists to complete the delayed peace process and constitution drafting
Seventeen political parties urged a consensus in Wednesday’s vote.
NC is advocating a left-democratic alliance led by it; the coalition
has the support of 14 parties.
A third front in the UML Tuesday night failed to broker a deal
In the party suggesting election of a premier through rotation between the three parties.
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RE-THINK ON PRITHVI NARAYAN SHAH

Kathmandu, 12 Jan.: In clear re-think of Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great, the unifier and founder of modern Nepal, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Tuesday attended a tea reception at Bhrikuti Mandap organized by RPP-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa to commemorate the
289th birthday of the first Shah king.
The prime minister attended the reception Tuesday even as he declared euphorically after a republic declaration only parties and not the king can by a symbol of national unity.
Law Minister Prem Bahadur Singh paid floral tribute at the statute of the
The nation’s founder in front of Singha Durbar.
Vice-president Parmananda Jha, leaders of parties, except Maoists, attended Thapa’s tea reception; RPP-Nepal took the lead in organizing the reception.
The party has demanded restoration of a public holiday scrapped by government three years after a republic was declared by a
self-appointed and unelected parliament.
RPP-Nepal demands the birthday of Prithvi Narayan Shah should be
observed as a day of national unity.
NC Chief Whip Lawman Ghimere attended the tea reception; Speaker Subash Nemwang also attended.
Government and party re-think come amid political uncertainty and
demands in the hills and terai for autonomy and even independence.
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THREE PARTY FORCE

Kathmandu, 12 Jan. The Big Three have formed a task force to study the
situation after UNMN retreats Saturday after three years of a failed
mission.
Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha and Barsha Man Pun of
Maoists and Dr. Minendra Rijal and Krishna Prasad Shitaula from NC are in the body.
UML is represented by Ishwor Pokhrel and Home Minister Bhim Rawal.
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