Thursday, May 5, 2016

Deuba ready to offer Prachanda premiership

Nepali Congress, the principal opposition in Parliament, is ready to accept UCPN-Maoist leader Prachanda as its candidate for Prime Minister, sources in the know have told Onlinekhabar. According to multiple sources, Nepali Congress is preparing form a new government as political parties in Parliament prepare their strategy for the budget session of the House. The party has made up its mind to back Prachanda, if it is not possible to get enough backing for NC President Deuba for the top post. When Deuba, who was elected president of the party, decided not to let of the post of parliamentary party leaders, observers had taken this as a sign of Deuba’s desire to become Prime Minister at the earliest. But the Congress chief now appears to be willing to stake the party’s claim on important ministries, and allow someone else (Prachanda) to become the chief executive. Sources say that it is only a matter of days before Deuba meets Prachanda to make him the offer. Deuba is looking for an opportune moment so that Prachanda does not have a reason to say no. The Maoists feel that the Oli government has failed to deliver, but, as Deuba knows, they are reluctant to support a Congress-led government.