Maoists invite Madhesis to join Govt

Desperate TO lead the government, Nepal’s Maoist leader on Sunday started consultation with Terai-based political parties.

With the aim to form a larger ruling coalition, the Maoist leadership offered the three Madhesi parties to join the new government. The Maoists are trying to unite all the pro-republic political parties.

Maoist chief Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai held separate meetings with the Terai Madhesi Loktantric Party (TMLP), Sadbhawana Party (SP) and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF). While the TMLP and the SP reportedly refused to join the new government, and promised to extend support from outside, the MJF may be part of the next ruling coalition.

As the Maoists and MJF have always been political rivals, both the parties joining hands is now witnessed as a great step ahead. MJF leader Upendra Yadav told the Hindustan Times that they were in favour of formation of the new government before the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly (CA).

The MJF, which has emerged as the fourth largest political party in the CA, has also demanded that the 26 nominated members be selected by the new government. Yadav said the present interim government did not have the right to nominate the members. A task force has been constituted and the first meeting of the CA is likely to be held before May 28. During the last two days, members of the task force have been having a series of meetings to give final shape to the new government.

"The task force members are discussing the important issues," Jhalanath Khanal, senior Communist Party of Nepal leader, and a member of the task force, said.