Nepal govt in crisis as Maoist party withdraws support

Prime Minister K P Oli-led coalition government in Nepal today plunged into a serious crisis after Prachanda's Maoist party withdrew support to the the embattled leader and claimed that he will form the next government with the backing of opposition Nepali Congress.
CPN (Maoist Centre) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', in a statement, said his party withdrew support to the nine-month old CPN-UML-led coalition government as Oli was hesitating to implement the past agreements -- the nine-point agreement signed between the two parties in May and the gentlemen's agreement for the change of guard.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Prachanda referred to the promulgation of new Constitution and the past agreements, and said his party was always in favour of forging a national consensus.

He further said the party's decision to withdraw support from the government would help build the national consensus.
"Our party saw the need for national consensus to implement the new statute, complete the remaining tasks of peace process along with the transitional justice, resolve the issues raised byMadhesis, Janajatis and Tharus, and provide relief to the people and carry out reconstruction of the country in the wake of the last year's devastating earthquake," reads the letter.
"And the spirit of nine-point agreement that the Maoist party and CPN-UML forged in May was also national consensus," he pointed out.

"But as the leadership of the existing government was not ready to implement the nine-point agreement and the three-point gentlemen's agreement (including change in government leadership), it would be politically inappropriate for our party to remain in this government. Thus, we withdraw our support from this government now."

Prime Minister Oli and the Maoist chief had reached a verbal agreement in May to hand over the leadership of the government to the latter after the Parliament endorses the new budget, according to sources close to Prachanda.
However, Oli turned a deaf ear towards the top Maoist leader and asserted that he would continue in power till the new election is held in one and a half year's time.
CPN (Maoist Centre) leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara in a press conference today said the party, second-largest group in the coalition government, is pulling back all of its ministers.
He claimed the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has agreed to form the new government under Prachanda.

"The two parties have agreed to form the first round of government under CPN (Maoist Centre)and the NC for the second round for the implementation of the constitution," said Mahara.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the CPN-UML's leadership, the Maoist Centre had recently intensified intra-party and inter-party dialogues to form a new government in its leadership.