Nepal Prez asks CA to elect PM on majority basis

{image-Ram Baran Yadav_10082008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Kathmandu, Aug 10: Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav on Sunday, Aug 10 directed the Constituent Assembly (CA) to take initiatives for forming a new government through vote after the Maoists failed to garner simple majority in the last 10 days.

Dr Yadav, in a letter, has asked to form the government with the simple majority in the CA. His latest move has come as the Maoists could not form the government in one week's time given by him. The parties could not reach a consensus even after extending three days for that purpose. The Maoists have 227 seats, short of 73 for the simple majority, in the 601-strong CA. The Nepali Congress (NC) had set seven-point-pre-conditions for the former rebels, including the disbanding of Young Communist League and return of seized property during the 10-year-long insurgency.

The Maoists had refused to support NC chief Girija Prasad Koirala for the post of President and the Maoists' candidates were defeated in the contest for Presidential and Vice-Presidential posts. The Maoists have said they would take the important portfolios including the Primeministership. The NC has said it would not allow the former rebels to hold the Defence Ministry portfolio which controls the Nepalese Army.

UNI