Electing A New Prime Minister In Nepal

Siddhi B. Ranjitkar

Nepal has been facing the problem of electing a new Prime Minister after the resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Nepal on June 30, 2010. The four major power centers such as UCPN-Maoist, NC, CPN-UML and UDMF have stuck to their own ideology and demands for resolving the political issue leading to the political deadlock. The results of the elections held to elect a new Prime Minister on July 21 and 23 clearly show that all these four power centers held on to their positions firmly and could not elect a new Prime Minister. Compromise on the stand on their respective political issues is necessary to elect a new Prime Minister otherwise they may not be able to elect a Prime Minister even in the third round of the election to be held on August 02, 2010.

The UCPN-Maoist legislators have voted for their candidate Prachanda and against the NC President Ram Chandra Poudel; similarly, the NC legislators voted for Ram Chandra Poudel and against Prachanda in the election held on July 21, 2010 whereas the CPN-UML candidate Jhalanath Khanal pulled out of the contest for a Prime Minister at the last moment stating he could not garner a two-third majority of the legislators his party has ordered him to garner for getting elected to a Prime Minister. The CPN-UML legislators did not vote for anybody. The UDMF legislators did not vote for anyone of the two candidates, too. The same situation has continued in the election held on July 23 except for a minor change such as Prachanda getting one vote less than in the previous election whereas Ram Chandra getting nine votes more than in the previous election but none of them has garnered the 300 votes required for getting elected to the position of a new Prime Minister.

In the second round of voting, when the Speaker called for voting on the candidacy of Prachanda, a total of 572 legislators cast their ballots: 237 legislators belonging to the UCPN-Maoist plus four other legislators voted for Prachanda and 113 legislators belonging to the NC voted against him, and 218 legislators did not vote for anybody. When the Speaker put the NC candidate Ram Chandra Poudel to vote, 578 legislators cast their votes: 113 NC legislators plus 10 other legislators altogether 123 legislators voted for him; 241 UCPN-Maoist legislators voted against him; and 214 did not vote for any one of the two candidates. NC legislator Narahari Acharya could not show up in the election due to illness.

The UCPN-Maoist has 237 legislators, NC 114, CPN-UML 104, and UDMF 82; altogether the four parties have 537 legislators, and the remaining legislators belong to small parties in the 601-members legislature. Currently, only 599 legislators are sitting in the legislature. So, any one of the candidates such as Prachanda or Ram Chandra needs to pick up at least 300 votes to get elected to a Prime Minister.

The two major political parties such as UCPN-Maoist and NC could not only come closer but also have been drifting farther away from each other. UCPN-Maoist leaders say that they are for complete change in the political and economic systems; the NC and CPN-UML leaders have charged the Maoists with moving to the extreme left whereas UCPN-Maoist leaders have charged the NC and CPN-UML leaders with moving to the right and opting for the status quo.

The CPN-UML leaders are divided into two camps. Madhav Nepal and his companions such as KP Oli and others are moving toward the NC means to the conservative party whereas Bamdev Gautam and his colleague Jhalanath Khanal are moving to the left means going closer to the UCPN-Maoist but Jhalanath Khanal has been flip-flop causing political uncertainty of his party. CPN-UML legislators have stood aloof twice not casting votes for anyone of the two candidates in the elections to a Prime Minister stating they will vote for the candidate that garners two-third majority. It is the ploy of Madhav Nepal not to make Jhalanath Khanal a Prime Minister, as Mr. Madhav Nepal knows that not only Mr. Khanal but also any one of the candidates will be able to garner a two-third majority. Currently, Madhav Nepal and his colleague KP Oli have been pressing the CPN-UML leadership for supporting NC candidate Ram Chandra Poudel.

The UDMF is the amalgam of four Madheshi political parties such as Madheshi People’s Rights Forum-Democratic, Madheshi People’s Rights Forum-Nepal, Tarai Madhesh Democratic Party and Nepal Sadbhavana Party. Three of them such as Madheshi People’s Rights Forum-Democratic, Madheshi People’s Rights Forum-Nepal, and Tarai Madhesh Democratic Party are new political parties born after the People’s Movement in 2006. Most of the leaders of these three new parties have been former NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist. The fourth one is the Nepal Sadbhavana Party that has split into numerous parties of its name with different tails. Madheshi People’s Rights Forum split into Madheshi People’s Rights Forum-Democratic led by former NC member Bijya Gacchedar, and Madheshi People’s Rights Forum-Nepal led by former Maoist Upendra Yadav in a squabble over whether they will join a new government or not after the resignation of Prime Minister Prachanda. Gacchedar joined the coalition government of the NC and CPN-UML led by Madhav Nepal whereas Upendra Yadav opted for remaining out of the government.

Only the Madhesh word has bound these four Madheshi parties together. They have no common political ideology. Most of them are seeking for the opportunities of getting into power and trying to be on a par with their former bosses. For example, most of the Madheshi leaders of all Madheshi political parties joined the coalition government of the NC and CPN-UML despite both the NC and CPN-UML leaders have been deadly against their demands for an ‘autonomous one Madhesh province.’ They have had no opportunities of getting into power when they have been in their mother parties. So, they must have grabbed any opportunity of getting into the chair of ministers. In addition, they are now the party leaders on a par with their former bosses thus enhancing their political status.

After the fall of the Prime Minister Madhav Nepal on June 30, 2010, these Madheshi leaders came close to each other and revived the UDMF again. Currently, they have been saying that they will vote for anybody willing to meet their demand for ‘one Madhesh one province’ and to enforce the ’Eight-point Agreement’ they have reached with the Government of Nepal on February 28, 2008. Leaders of the three major political parties such as UCPN-Maoist, NC and CPN-UML have created this situation not coming closer and working on consensus politics. These three political parties have altogether 445; so Nepalis have given them the mandate to work together for completing the peace process and the writing of a new constitution; however they have not been honoring the people’s mandate and leading Nepal to a deepening political crisis.

Now, let us see what the Nepalese media have said about the stand of leaders of different political parties have taken on various political issues:

On July 24, 2010, speaking at the reporters club in Kathmandu, Secretary to UCPN-Maoist C.P. Gajurel has said that his party agrees on several political issues the Madheshi leaders have concerned with but the Madheshi legislators have not voted for the candidate of his party Prachanda because of the pressure India has put on them, ‘The Rising Nepal’ of July 25, 2010 reports. He has said that his party will not accept the Madheshi parties’ demand for ‘one Madhesh one province’,

On July 24, 2010, speaking at the function held in Kathmandu to make the translation of Karl Marx’ ‘Das Capital’ into Nepali public, Chairmen of UCPN-Maoist and CPN-UML have said that they will go together to complete the peace process and the writing of a new constitution, ‘The Rising Nepal’ of July 25, 2010 reports.

Chairman of UCPN-Maoist Prachanda has said that Nepalis have great faith and belief in the Nepali communist movement; if all communist parties in the Constituent Assembly come together they make 66 per cent of the total members in the legislature; then the rightists and status quos could be rooted out. He has also made it clear that his party has no ‘tactics’ behind supporting Chairman of CPN-UML Khanal; the Maoists want to help Khanal to root out the deep-rooted status quos and rightist forces in Nepal, ‘The Rising Nepal’ of July 25, 2010 reports

Speaking at the same platform, Chairman of CPN-UML Jhalanath Khanal has said that the common responsibilities of all Nepali communists are for concluding the peace process, writing democratic constitution, restructuring the state, initiating economic revolution, and strengthening the national unity. He said, "We should go hand in hand as our common goal is to reach socialism and communism through people’s democracy though we belong to different groups. There is possibility that we can go ahead together from ideological, organizational and practical viewpoint", ‘The Rising Nepal’ of July 25, 2010 reports.

On July 24, 2010, speaking at the function held to mark the ‘Puspa Lal Memorial Day’ at his party’s headquarters in Balkhu, Chairman of CPN-UML Jhalanath Khanal has said that the country will plunge into a catastrophe if the parties attempt to form a majority government; he has stressed the need for a strong government to complete the peace process and the constitution writing; he has predicted that the third round of election to be held on August 02 will not elect a new Prime Minister if the parties stick to form a majority government, ‘The Rising Nepal’ of July 25, 2010 reports.

On July 24, 2010, speaking at a program held in Kathmandu, Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal Kamal Thapa has charged Madheshi parties’ leaders with putting forward conditions that the political leaders cannot meet for their support for a Prime Ministerial candidate; he has said that Prime Minister has no mandate for meeting their demand for ‘one Madhesh on province’; only the Constituent Assembly can make any decision on this matter according to ‘The Himalayan Times.’

On July 24, 2010, in a regular meeting with the officiating Prime Minister Madhav Nepal, President Ram Baran Yadav has shown his concern for the legislature not being able to elect a Prime Minister even in the second round of election; Madhav Nepal has expressed his anger at the political leaders particularly his party’s boss Jhalanath Khanal for not being able to garner a two-third majority for getting elected to the Prime Minister; he has said to the president that it makes no sense to elect a Prime Minister by a majority vote, as he has quit the position for electing a Prime Minister by a two-third majority even though he has had a majority support for his government according to his press advisor, the local media report. Abusing the Interim Constitution of Nepal of 2007 for directly writing a letter to the then Chief of Army Staff, the President has been the main culprit for bringing the current political deadlock. If he wants to break the deadlock he needs to quit the position of the President paving the way for electing a new president.

On July 24, 2010, speaking at an interaction program held at the Reporters' Club, NC and Maoist leaders have blamed the CPN-UML for making the legislature unable to elect a new Prime Minister and for making the political situation more complicated according to the nepalnews.com. "We have not been able to understand the UML," Maoist secretary CP Gajurel said, "It neither responded well to our support to form UML-led government nor accept the call for Maoist’s leadership." Speaking at the same platform, NC leader Ramesh Lekhak has also criticized the CPN-UML’s position, saying the CPN-UML leaders have failed to realize that the NC gave support to Madhav Nepal's government. "Now it's UML's turn to support the NC in order to conclude the peace process and constitution writing," he opined. However, CPN-UML's Pradeep Gyawali has repeated the decision of his party on a consensus government. "UML is firm in its decision not to go for a majority government because a coalition of majority will reach nowhere," he explained. Saying the Maoist's decision on supporting a CPN-UML government was just for a leader (Jhalanath Khanal) not for the party, Gyawali countered Maoist leader Gajurel's statement: his party gave support for the CPN-UML for forming a new government, nepalnews.com reports.

On July 24, 2010, speaking to journalists after the blood donation held at the headquarters of the CPN-UML at Balkhu to mark the ‘Puspa Lal Memorial’, Jhalanath Khanal has said that the NC's tendency to reap political benefits is the main cause of the political stalemate; and said, "The Congress needs to engage in politics of ethics"; Mr. Khanal has blamed the NC for disabling the legislature for electing a Prime Minister, as the NC legislators has not supported his candidacy for a Prime Minster even though he has been very close to garnering a two-third majority; he has said that his party will not support any party to form a majority government, as playing with the "majority game" will push the nation to a catastrophe, neaplnews.com reports. He pulled out of his candidacy at the last moment, as he was short of eight votes to form a two-third majority.

On July 25, 2010, ‘The Himalayan Times’ reported that after the meeting between the UCPN-Maoist and the UDMF leaders held at the parliamentary party office of Tarai Madhesh Democratic Party (TMDP) at Singha Durbar, Maoist Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha ‘Prakash’ said, “The Front presented their basic paper and we presented our opinion on the issues raised by them. They wanted our commitment to some of the issues in writing, so we have agreed to sit next time along with the text.”

One of the participants in the meeting between the UCPN-Maoist and UDMF leaders, leader of TMDP Hridayesh Tripathi has said that they have received positive response to most of the Madhesh issues from the UCPN-Maoist leaders; only a few points need further consideration of them. “Prachanda praised our basic paper and said the paper was not ill-intentioned before leaving the meeting,” Tripathi said. Tripathi has said that they have prepared the basic paper following the past agreements including the 22-point agreement reached with them and the Interim Constitution.

Another participant in the meeting between the UCPN-Maoist and UDMF leaders, Co-chairman of Madheshi People’s Rights Forum-Nepal Jaya Prakash Gupta has said that UCPN-Maoist leaders have given positive response to drafting a bill on the inclusive state employment and decamping the YCL and returning the seized properties following the agreements reached previously. He has also said that the UCPN-Maoist leaders are for scrapping the decision on forming a State Restructuring Commission.

On July 25, 2010, at the meeting held with the officiating Prime Minister at his official residence Baluwatar, NC Acting President Sushil Koirala, senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, NC parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel and Minister for Culture and Parliamentary Affairs Minendra Rijal have asked officiating Prime Minister Madhav Nepal for the support of his party to the candidacy of Ram Chandra Poudel for Prime Minister in the upcoming election to be held on August 02 but Madhav Nepal has said that the central committee of his party has decided to opt for a national consensus government and therefore legislators belonging to his party CPN-UML will not support any one of the candidates for a majority government, myrepublica.com and ‘The Himalayan Times report.

On July 25, 2010, at the meeting of the NC and the UDMF leaders held at TMLP's Parliamentary Party office, the Madheshi leaders have demanded the written commitment of the NC leaders to the peace process, constitution-drafting and concerns of the Madheshi people presented in the basic paper last week according to ‘The Himalayan Times’. "We want the (NC leaders’) commitment to meet the issues raised during Madhesh agitations and guarantee of Madheshi people's entry into the army, police and public service," Chairman of Madheshi People’s Rights Forum-Nepal Upendra Yadav told reporters after the meeting.

On July 26, 2010, speaking at a ‘Face to Face’ program in Kathmandu, politburo member of UCPN-Maoist Agni Sapkota has said that his party has always wanted the next government led by the person chosen from "the heart and soul" of the Nepali citizens; however that has not been happening, as the national and foreign powers have been conspiring against the Chairperson of the UCPN-Maoist Prachanda because he has always been for protecting the national sovereignty but the UCPN-Maoist will never bow to the pressure of foreign power centers, the state-run newspaper ‘The Rising Nepal’ of July 27, 2010 reports. He has said that the current election to a Prime Minister is not a simple process of selecting a leader of the next government but it is a historical verdict that will decide whether the nation will be sovereign or dependent on foreign powers.

On July 27, 2010, showing her concern for the legislature being disabled to elect a new Prime Minister, Chief of UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) Karin Landgren has met with acting President of NC Sushil Koirala and discussed the future of the integration of the two armies and the peace process in Nepal, ‘The Himalayan Times’, ‘The Rising Nepal’ of July 28, and nepalnews.com report. Acting President Koirala has been deadly against the activities of UNMIN in Nepal and has accused it of being loyal to the Maoists. He has been against extending the term of the UNMIN. Its term is ending on September 15, 2010. However, UNMIN has been repeatedly telling him and others that it has been simply following its mandate.

On July 27, 2010, NC Parliamentary Party leader and Prime Ministerial candidate Ram Chandra Poudel went to meet with Chairman of CPN-UML Jhalanath Khanal at his residence begging for his support for him in the upcoming election to a Prime Minister on August 02; Mr. Khanal has repeated his view that the national consensus government is the only solution to break the political deadlock; Mr. Poudel has complained that Khanal has refused to meet him on the eve of election last week despite the repeated requests of the NC leader; US ambassador to Nepal Scott H. DeLisi has also met with Khanal at his residence to show his concern over the latest political developments including the formation of a new government; Ambassador DeLisi has also said that the CPN-UML's decision to remain neutral during the prime ministerial election will only cause further delay in the government formation and eventually put the peace and constitution drafting process at risk; in turn, Chairman of CPN-UML Khanal assured the envoy of the political parties trying to build a consensus on a national government and has said that the nation will have a new Prime Minister on August 02, ‘The Himalayan Times’, myrepublica.com, ‘The Rising Nepal’ of July 28, and nepalnews.com report.

On July 28, 2010, speaking at an interaction program in Kathmandu, Chairman of Madheshi People’s Rights Forum Upendra Yadav has said that the UDMF will give its support for forming a new government to any party that pledges to meet its demands otherwise the UDMF will stay in the opposition; he has even threatened to launch a fresh stir if the major parties fail to respond to the Madheshi demands, ‘The Himalayan Times’ reports. Mr. Yadav has said that the UCPN-Maoist needs to disband the Young Communist League (YCL), return the seized properties and integrate its combatants; and the NC needs to come up with a clear roadmap for the enforcement of the agreement signed between the government and the UDMF.

On July 29, 2010, speaking at a program on national consensus for peace and constitution held by Youth Association of Nepal affiliated to the CPN-UML in Kathmandu, Chairman of CPN-UML Jhalanath Khanal has urged the UCPN-Maoist and NC to pull out their candidates for a Prime Minister to pave the way for laying a new foundation of national consensus, ‘The Himalayan Times’ reports quoting RSS: the state-run news agency. Vice-President of NC Prakash Man Singh has ruled out the Khanal’s views on changing the regulations when the political game is still going on. Maoist Vice-Chairman Narayankaji Shrestha has said that the demand of the Madheshi front for a ‘one Madhesh one province’ cannot be met. He has blamed the rival political parties that they are spreading false propaganda on Maoists demanding it be a civic party while it has already led the government coming a long way since the 12-point understanding.

On July 29, 2010, quoting Dr. Bhattarai’s aide Bishwadeep Pandey, myrepublica.com has reported that in a meeting with the outgoing British ambassador to Nepal Dr Andrew Hall at his private residence at New Baneshor, Vice-chairman of UCPN-Maoist Dr Baburam Bhattarai has said that the long-lasting political deadlock will end if the political parties reach an agreement in principle to form a national consensus government by August 02. “If we fail to reach a consensus by August 02, we can end the current election procedure and adopt a new one for the sake of a consensus government,” Pandey quoted Bhattarai as saying. “All options are open for the sake of a consensus government,” Bhattarai said. He has also said that a majority government, no matter who leads it, will not be able to conclude the peace process and constitution drafting.

On July 29, 2010, at a meeting with Chief of UNMIN Karin Landgren at his residence, New Baneshwor, Vice-chairman of UCPN-Maoist Dr Baburam Bhattarai has said that his party is ready to finish the important task of integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants by separating those that want to be integrated into the state security forces from those who do not; this will be done by bringing the Maoist combatants under the Army Integration Special Committee (AISC), nepalnews.com and myrepublica.com report. Dr. Bhattarai has said that his party is in favor of forming a national consensus government for timely drafting the constitution and is also for extending the mandate of the UN political mission: UNMIN until the successful conclusion of the peace process. Ms. Landgren has also shown her concern for political parties sidelining the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants by focusing their attention on formation of a new government.

On July 29, 2010, dubbing the 22-party coalition government a failure at the time of speaking to reporters in Biratnagar, NC leader Sujata Koirala has said that the political parties need to build a consensus on forming a new government because the simple majority government will fail to deliver anything to the people, the nepalnews.com reports. She has also said that the NC needs to build a consensus on forming a new government led by its leader.

On July 29, 2010, Ambassadors of India and United States have hectically met with the political leaders in the wake of the legislature failing to elect a new Prime Minister; Indian ambassador Rakesh Sood has met with NC prime ministerial candidate Ram Chandra Poudel, and they discussed the prime ministerial election. Mr. Poudel has claimed that the NC will be able to collect enough votes for getting him elected to a Prime Minister in the upcoming election to be held on August 02, nepalnews.com reports. Similarly, US ambassador to Nepal Scott H. DeLisi has met with Chairman of Madheshi People’s Rights Forum-Democratic Bijya Kumar Gacchedar, and has shown his concern for not electing a new Prime Minister even after two elections.

On July 29, 2010, US Ambassador to Nepal Scott H. DeLisi has visited Chairman of UCPN-Maoist Prachanda at his party’s headquarters Parisdanda, Koteshwor in Kathmandu to talk about the ongoing political deadlock and the election to a new Prime Minister; during the meeting with the leader of the largest party in the legislature, the US envoy has shown his concern for the ongoing political deadlock, and its impact on the drafting of a new constitution, the state-run newspaper ‘The Rising Nepal’ of July 30, 2010 reports.

On July 29, 2010, CPN-UML cadres have lodged a complaint at the party headquarters in Lalitpur against Vice-chairwoman and Defense Minister Bidhya Bhandari for speaking against the party's official stance on the prime ministerial election; in the complaint, the cadres have said that Mrs. Bhandari has breached the party's official line saying the party should support NC prime ministerial candidate Ram Chandra Poudel, nepalnews.com reports.

On July 30, 2010, stating the court cannot intervene in the matters concerned with the parliament following the Article 107 (2) of the Interim Constitution of Nepal of 2007, a single bench of justice Balaram K.C of the Supreme Court of Nepal has quashed the petition advocates Kumar Acharya and Bhabishwar Gurung also a member of the CPN-UML legal department have jointly filed claiming that the withdrawal of Khanal's candidacy is illegal, as such provision is not mentioned anywhere in the parliamentary regulations; the petitioners have also accused Officiating Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal of withdrawing the Khanal’s candidacy with an intention to prolong his duration in office, and also have demanded the previous two elections be annulled and the Khanal’s candidacy be restored for the elections to be held on August 02, nepalnews.com, ‘The Himalayan Times’  and myrepublica.com report.

On July 30, 2010, talking to journalists after a meeting with Chairman of Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (NWPP) Naryanman Bijukchhe at his residence in Bhaktapur today evening, Chairman of UCPN-Maoist Prachanda has said that his party will not reach any “unnecessary agreement” with any parties just to get back into power. “We respect the demand and sentiments of Janjatis, Madheshis, Dalits and marginalized communities,” Prachanda said, “but we will not reach any unnecessary agreement that will create crisis or result in the disintegration of the country.” Prachanda has gone to Bhaktapur to meet with Bijukchhe seeking his party’s support for Prachanda’s candidacy in the election to be held on August 02, nepalnews.com, myrepublica.com, and ‘The Himalayan Times’ report.

On July 30, 2010, speaking at the press meet held by the Press Union at the Koirala family residence in Biratnagar, NC leader Sujata Koirala has said that her party will withdraw its prime ministerial candidacy for the sake of a national consensus and will show others that "it does not lust for government leadership or power", nepalnews.com reports. She has also said that her party is considering building a consensus on an all-party government instead of forming a majority government that will end up holding the country hostage to the politics of no-where. She has acknowledged that the government led by Madhav Nepal of which she is a Deputy Prime Minister could not do anything of any significance. However, according to ‘myrepublica.com’ report, “We will not withdraw our candidacy,” said Spokesperson for the NC Arjun Narsingh KC, “We will not return without reaching a conclusion.” Spokesperson KC has said that NC will make efforts to form a national consensus government under his party’s leadership until the end. “We will try to form a majority government if we failed to form a consensus government,” he added.

On July 31, 2010, speaking at the function held by the Ramechhap-Kathmandu Contact Forum in Kathmandu, Vice-chairman of CPN-UML Bamdev Gautam has demanded disciplinary actions against senior leaders of his party that have been drumming up support for the NC candidate disregarding the Central Committee’s decision on not voting anybody that cannot collect a two-third majority in the prime ministerial election to be held on August 02, and hinted that officiating Prime Minister Madhav Nepal and other senior leaders have aborted Chairman Khanal’s chances of becoming a new Prime Minister on July 21; he has also asked why the Disciplinary Committee of his party does not take actions against such party men that have breached the policy of the party whereas the same committee has cautioned him in the past when he asked for the resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Nepal, ‘The Himalayan Times’ reports.

On July 31, 2010, at the meeting with the UDMF leaders held at the parliamentary office of Madheshi People’s Rights Forum-Nepal, Singha Durbar in Kathmandu, Chairman of UPCN-Maoist Prachanda along with his colleagues Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and Narayankaji Shrestha have presented a written commitment of their party to the UDMF leaders but it has been inconclusive, ‘The Himalayan Times,’ nepalnews.com, and myrepublica.com report. "We will sit again with the leaders of Madheshi parties for further discussions once they unveil their response," Shrestha said. Vice-chairman of Madheshi People’s Rights Forum-Nepal JP Gupta has said that it is too early to make a comment without the analysis of every detail of the Maoist commitment paper. "We will clarify our position only after we sit together to analyze the Maoist commitment paper," Gupta said. He also mentioned that the UDMF would come up with its response very soon.

On the afternoon of August 01, 2010, at the meeting held at the parliamentary party office of Nepal Sadbhavana Party at Singha Durbar in Kathmandu, a team of NC leaders such as Acting President Sushil Koirala, Prime Ministerial candidate Ram Chandra Poudel and senior leader Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat submitted the written commitment of the NC to the UDMF; Chairman of Madheshi People’s Rights Forum-Nepal Upendra Yadav, Chairman of Madheshi People’s Rights Forum-Democratic Bijya Gacchedar, Chairman of Tarai Madhesh Democratic Party Mahanta Thakur and Chairman of Nepal Sadbhavana Party Rajendra Mahato have represented the UDMF at the meeting; NC leaders have said that no to the group entry into the national army and dissolution of State Restructuring Commission and has sought clarification of the "autonomous Madhesh state with right to self-determination", myrepublica.com, nepalnews.com and ‘The Himalayan Times’ report.

On August 01, 2010, in the meeting held at Singha Durbar to discuss the written documents presented by the UCPN-Maoist and NC, the UDMF leaders have been unable to reach any decision on supporting one of the two candidates in a Prime Ministerial election to be held on August 02, both the UCPN-Maoist and NC have rejected their demands for ‘one Madhesh one province’ and the group entry of Madheshis into the army; however, Maoists have accepted their demand for the right to self-decision, while NC has rejected it, nepalnews.com and ‘The Himalayan Times’ report. The UDMF leaders have decided to sit with the UCPN-Maoist leaders again on the Monday morning of August 02 to clarify some of the points.

Madhav Nepal has emerged as the main political villain. He has successfully enforced his ‘tricks and traps policy’. He has created a politics of no-where tricking Jhalanath Khanal to get into the politics of a two-third majority. Stating his party has decided to vote only for the candidate garnering a two-third majority, he has pulled out the Prime Ministerial candidate of Jhalanath Khanal even though he has garnered almost two-third majority for his candidacy. He has put NC leaders in the embarrassing position asking them to have a two-third majority knowing that they will not be able to do so, as they are deadly against the Maoists that have the largest number of votes in the legislature. He also knows that the Maoists also will not garner a two-third majority without the support of the NC or of his party: CPN-UML. However, his party has decided not to vote anybody that cannot garner a two-third majority. Thus, he has taken revenge on everybody that has forced him to resign from the Prime Minister.

August 1, 2010