Prachanda meets UML leader Khanal

Senior CPN-UML leader Jhala Nath Khanal called on CPN-Maoist chairman Prachanda at the latter's residence in Nayabazaar in Kathmandu Tuesday and congratulated him on his party's success in the polls.

Khanal, who is tipped to be the strong contender for CPN-UML's top post and
one who strongly believes in working in close collaboration with the Maoists in the days to come, had reached the Prachandanibas or Prachanda's residence while the Central Secretariat meeting of the party was going on there to prepare Maoists' proposal for the model of the next government.

Emerging from the nearly one hour long meeting, Khanal said that Prachanda urged CPN-UML to be a part of the new government to be formed under the Maoist leadership and requested the party's full collaboration for it.

"I told him [Prachanda] that the decision as to whether CPN-UML would join the new government or not would be taken by the central committee meeting of the party to be held soon," Khanal said, adding that it would also determine the role the party would take up in the changed scenario.

He said that CPN-UML, as a member of the Constituent Assembly, would extend its full support and cooperation to any future government in order to draft a new constitution and run the country efficiently.

"But this is only possible if the Maoist leadership builds an enabling atmosphere," Khanal said, clearly hinting at the violent activities of the party's youth wing, the YCL.

Senior Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai was also present in the meeting, which has been deemed important coming as it did at a time when the UML leadership is divided over whether to be part of the next Maoist led government. nepalnews.com ag Apr 22 08