NC READY TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE TO PAUDEL SAYS ARJUN NARSINGH KC

KC OF NC ALSO SAYS PARTY READY TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE TO PAUDEL

Kathmandu, 31 March: Nepali Congress (NC) Central Committee member Arjun Narsingh KC stated that the party would provide alternate for Ram Chandra Paudel if NC's leadership is assured by other parties. Speaking at the face to face program of Reporters Club, Nepal on Tuesday in the capital, KC said " Congress has kept itself open to possibilities. It is ready to discuss on providing alternate to its present candidate if other parties are ready to accept its leadership in the new government, Chitra Raj Bhandari writes in Reportersnepal.com."

Reminding that Prime Ministerial candidacy of Ram Chandra Paudel was decided on the basis of consensus rather than his position of parliamentary party leader, KC claimed that the party will once again provide another candidate on the basis of consensus.

He ruled out the possibility of rolling back the candidacy unless the issue of peace, stature drafting and power sharing in the new government were agreed in a package. " Nepali Congress is a democratic party and it will accept the results if its Prime Ministerial candidacy is voted out in the parliament. But we will not roll it back unless a package deal is reached on core issues between parties" said KC at the occasion.

Terming the proposed rotational leadership as the product of lust for power of political leaders, he stated that NC was ready to move ahead by incorporating UCPN Maoist in the present democratic coalition while speaking at the program presided by the Club's President Rishi Dhamala.

Another speaker at the program, UCPN Maoist Secretary C P Gajurel ruled out the possibility of handing over the containers of their arms and ammunition containers to government before the task of combatant integration and rehabilitation is concluded.

" The arms will be handed over after we enter a process. The Maoists will not hand over arms without a roadmap" said Gajurel. Claiming that UNMIN's term extension was backed by the constitution itself, he said that the Maoists would knock on the doors of the apex court if their demand to extend UNMIN's term was not met through political dialogue.

Stating that the Maoist will also lay claims on the leadership of the new government, Gajurel said that leaders other than Chairman Prachanda and Vice Chairman Bhattarai, could also be forwarded as the Prime Ministerial candidate from the party.

CPN UML politburo member Pradeep Gyanwali while stating that UML did not had any objection to support the Prime Ministerial candidacy of Ram Chandra Paudel, urged Nepali Congress to enter new process. Like NC leader KC, Gyanwali also stressed on the need to continue the present coalition while making space for the Maoists in it.

Claiming that the rotational system to be a perfect alternative for ending the present political deadlock, he accused the Maoist of plotting split into other political parties by pointing out prime ministerial candidates in them.

He said that rumors surrounding UML Chairmam Jhalnath Khanal's claim on the leadership were triggered by the Maoists. " The Maoist lack sincerity. It has assured Jhalnath Khanal, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Sujata Koirala, and madhesh based parties for the same post. It is not honest in this matter" said Gyanwali.

Gyanwali stressed on sending UNMIN back and on strengthening special committee to conclude the peace process.
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ONE KILLED, 13 INJURED IN DHADING BUS ACCIDENT
Kathmandu, 31 March: One person died and another 31 were injured Friday in a bus accident at Jogimara, Dhading.
The bus was bound for Udayapur from the capital.
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MEDIA GOOGLE
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(Manisha Koirala, PTI report of 29 March reproduced in The Himalayan Times, 31 March)
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