NEW MAOIST SPOKESMAN SAYS PM RESIGNATION ONLY WITH CONSENSUS Kathmandu, 7 Aug.: Spokesperson of UCPN (Maoist) Agni Sapkota has said that the present government would not resign without forging a consensus in the disputed issues in the constitution making process, RSS reports.. In an interaction with media persons covering the UCPN (Maoist) party beat at the party's headquarters in Paris Danda on Tuesday, he also argued that the government would not resign without an alternative as the country cannot be pushed towards anarchy. "The parties first need to agree on reinstatement of the constituent assembly or the fresh elections, only then we can think of a change in the government," he said. Spokesperson Sapkota said that the five-point agreement reached among the parties to give NC the leadership of the next government had lost its significance, and so any party could be leading the new government on the basis of consensus. He said despite maximum efforts made by his party to forge a consensus the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML were not ready for it. Sapkota also went on to accuse the Nepali Congress of conspiring to stop the constituent assembly, an achievement of the people's war and the people's movement, from being successful again. The UCPN (Maoist) is determined of promulgating the new constitution from the constituent assembly, and any other option would not be acceptable to the party, he added. Referring to the recent controversies surrounding the visit to Nepal by Indian leaders and scholars, the Maoist party spokesperson said the visit by Bharatiya Janta Party Yashwant Shina was suspicious and added that they was no point preaching Nepal and the Nepali people in the pretext of publicizing one's book. Nnnn MAOIST CHIEF ALSO DEMANDS CONSENSUS ON CONSTITUTION FOR NEW GOVT. Kathmandu, 7 Aug.: Leaders of different political parties have reiterated the need of political consensus to cope with the current crisis and navigate the transition, RSS reports.. At a talk programme organized by the Inter-Party Women's Alliance in Lalitpur on Tuesday, Chairman of the UCPN-Maoist, Pushpa Kamal Dahal said if the parties become ready to settle contentious issues of the constitution writing, Nepali Congress could lead the next government. "NC-led government would be accepted once the parties agree to forward the constitution writing as per the five-point agreement," he said, adding that even the leaders of civil society could lead the government if it was formed as an election government. On the occasion, NC President Sushil Koirala said national consensus government was a must to clear off the present political gridlock, and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai should pave way for this by tendering his resignation at the earliest. He warned of the country turning into Afghanistan if we continue to become lackadaisical towards successfully navigating the present transition. Similarly, CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said if we failed to settle the present crisis the country could not make any headway for progress. He claimed that only a consensus government could untie the convoluted politics. Chairman of CPN-Maoist, Mohan Baidya, said roundtable conference could serve as the best option to solve every problem of the Nepalis by delivering them the constitution as per their aspirations. General Secretary of CPN-ML CP Mainali said serious discussion was essential among the political parties to resolve the present political imbroglio. Moreover, Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Pashupati Shumser Rana said only a consensus government could draft the new constitution. Therefore, discussion should be concentrated first on formation of national consensus government, he added. Chairperson of the Alliance, Urmila Pande presided over the programme where representatives of the Madhes-centric parties also put forth their views. nnnn