Maoists joining cabinet to ensure fair CA election: Prachanda

Kathmandu, Apr 1 (UNI) Maoist leader Prachanda today said the main priority of his party joining the interim cabinet will be to ensure free, fair and fearless environment for the upcoming Constituent Assembly elections slated for June 20 this year.

'' Our party will have two other priorities as well - to provide immediate relief to the people and to orient the state in the long-term towards new process'', local media quoted the Maoist chief as saying.

'' Let us not think that we have joined the old system.

The formation of the interim cabinet has started on a new process,'' he said.

The eight party leaders have signed an understanding whereby they have agreed to abolish of the monarchy if the latter is found to be engaged in conspiring to derail the Constituent Assembly polls - by two-third vote of the legislative parliament, Mr Prachanda said. The Monarchy has been suspended in the new constitution.

He said Maoist ministers will now be entitled to security benefits from the state. '' There is no more 'two states' now,'' he said.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala formed a 22- member cabinet which saw the induction of the Maoists in the interim cabinet today after he was unanimously reappointed by the Parliament.

UNI