SEVENTH PRESIDENTIAL DEADLINE LAPSES FRIDAY Kathmandu, 4 Jan.: The five-day seventh presidential deadline to assemble a national government to succeed a coalition of Maoists and five Madeshibadi parties elapses later Friday. The exercise has been going on for more than five weeks. The latest attempt to assemble an election government failed after President Dr.Ram Baran Yadav returned earlier in the week after concluding his third India visit and asked three parties and the front to find an outlet for constituent assembly election in April/May. Even though it appeared at first Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai was opposed to his replacement by NC President Sushil Koirala, it now is apparent both Chairman prachanda and the government chief, who is also Maoist vie-chairman, are against handing over reigns of government power to NC before a general convention in February. Prachanda and Bhattarai apparently oppose handing over Singha Durbar to a party leader and instead are pushing a neutral government amid calls by westrn diplomats for Bhattarai’s ouster. With a split p, both Prachanda and Bhattarai aren’t ready for national elections. Madeshi front is attempting to gain maximum leverage from the rift with the opposition even seeking leadership of government while pushing regional interests. President Dr. Ram BaranYadav blames parties for dissolving the constituent assembly and assures he won’t act in haste while saying a constitution has to be promulgated by the constituent assembly whose election is now uncertain with delay in forming a new government formation. ‘I will bring all parties together and form a government of consensus without acting in haste,” Dr.Yadav said Thursday. ‘A democratic constitution couldn’t be promulgated because parties are power centric,” he added. nnnn.