Will accept Nepal PM's post if national consensus is formed: Dahal

The Maoist leader blamed the Nepali Congress for the failure to form a national consensus on govt earlier

Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that he will accept the prime minister's post only if a national consensus government is formed.

"I won't become prime minister without a national consensus. Everyone alleges that Prachanda [Dahal] is power-hungry. It is this Prachanda, who supported Bidhya Devi Bhandari for the post of president and K P Oli for prime minister," the Kathmandu Post quoted him, as saying while speaking at the fourth district party convention yesterday.

He asserted that he recently rejected the offer by Nepali Congress (NC) and Madhesi-based parties to become the prime minister for national interests.

The Maoist leader blamed the Nepali Congress for the failure to form a national consensus government earlier.

"Regardless of rumours, the 9-point agreement reached with the CPN-UML states that if a national government is formed with NC and Madhes-based political parties on board, I will take the leadership," he added.

He, however, pressed that if he takes over the coveted post, the first thing he would do is convert the government-pledged interest free loan of Rs 300,000 to the earthquake victims into grant.