Nepal President extends deadline to form national govt

, Dec 30: As

's warring political parties failed to form a national unity government, the

of the country on Sunday gave five more days to them to strike a deal, warning that time was running out fast. President Ram Baran Yadav extended the deadline for the formation of a national consensus government to January 4. This is the seventh such extension given by him to the political parties since the original November 29 deadline.

The President had summoned the top leaders of the three major political parties and the Joint Democratic Madhesi Front (JDMF) today and inquired about the efforts made by them to forge a consensus during his absence from the country. "He asked the political party leaders to arrive at a consensus as early as possible," according to Nepali Congress general secretary Prakash Man Singh, who was also present during the meeting. The President also urged the top political leaders to work on the arrangements required for holding fresh elections, including the legal arrangements and rules and regulations.

"He urged all the parties to move forward in consensus so that elections can be held by next April-May," Singh said. "He reminded the party leaders that time was running out fast and emphasized the urgency of a consensus." UCPN-Maoist chief Prachanda, Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML chairman Jhalanath Khanal and Madehsi Front leader and Deputy Prime Minister Vijaya Kumar Gachhar, who reached the Rastrpati Bhawan, Sheetal Niwas, informed the President about the ongoing formal and informal initiatives aimed at forming a national government.

President Yadav summoned the meeting a day after his return from India and issued the new five-day deadline to the parties after consulting the political leaders. Nepal has plunged into a political and constitutional deadlock since May 27, when the Constituent Assembly was dissolved without promulgating the constitution. The November 22 deadline to hold fresh election had also passed without making any progress further worsening the situation.

PTI