Race is on to form Nepal Government

Kathmandu, July 24 : Following the election of Dr. Ram Baran Yadav as President and Paramananda Jha as Vice President, the race to form the new Government in Nepal has started.

The decks have been further cleared with the formal resignation of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala who tendered his resignation to President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav.

The election of chairman of Constituent Assembly (CA), too, is likely to take place today with the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) candidate Subas Nemwang set to be elected unopposed.

The three-party alliance among the Nepali Congress (NC), the UML and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) has divided President, Vice President and Constituent Assembly chair among themselves.

However, top leaders of the three parties have still said that the Maoists being the largest party should take the initiative to lead the Government.

Meanwhile, UML General Secretary Jhal Nath Khanal said that the drafting of a new constitution was impossible without unity and agreement among the CPN-Maoist, the UML and the Nepali Congress.

Speaking at a programme in Pokhara on Wednesday, Khanal stressed the need for agreement among the Big three in order to pass the new constitution through the Constituent Assembly.

"The foremost agenda now is to formulate a new constitution and bring about drastic change in the country," he said. "However, we need a two-thirds majority to pass the new constitution through the Constituent Assembly, which is unlikely if there is no agreement among us," he added.

He also said that the Maoists should lead the government as per the election mandate and share portfolios with other parties.

His remarks have come amid statements by the Maoist leaders that they will not stake a claim to form the government in Nepal, Nepalnews reported.

ANI