Maoists will quit alliance if consensus not reached on republic, PR system: Prachanda

Maoist Chairman Prachanda today warned that his party would be compelled to break the alliance with the parties and wage a peaceful movement if the latter failed to reach agreement on declaring the country republic through the parliament and adopt proportional voting system.

He also said that the Maoists would push for a new government to replace the Nepali Congress-government if consensus is not reached on the two key issues at the special session of the parliament commencing Oct 11.

Speaking at a press conference in Dipayal of Doti Tuesday afternoon, Prachanda said, “The special session of the interim parliament is very much capable of forging an agreement among the ruling parties on major political issues. But if that doesn’t happen then the seven party alliance could break and a new government has not be formed through a round table meeting.”

The Maoist chairman, who is currently touring around the far-western region, further said that if there was an agreement then the CA election could be held within the end of this year (mid-April 2008).

He, however, said that various other alternatives could be sought to keep the alliance intact. One suitable alternative, according to him, could be “a referendum to decide the fate of monarchy”.

The central committee meeting of the CPN-UML that concluded yesterday has also decided, among other things, to keep open all possible options including referendum on monarchy. It might be recalled here that CPN-UML was the first to propose a referendum on monarchy. nepalnews.com ag Oct 09 07