With major political parties unable to arrive at a consensus after week-long parleys, Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav on Wednesday gave them additional time till July 12 to forge a unity government.
The presidential office issued a notice asking political parties to form a consensus government by July 12, extending the deadline that expired on Wednesday by five days, Rajendra Dahal, press adviser to the President, said.
Earlier, the President had called the political parties to suggest a consensus candidate for Prime Minister by July 7, following the resignation of Madhav Kumar Nepal on June 30 in the wake of persistent protests by the Opposition Maoists.
The political parties, including the UCPN-Maoists, Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and others have held parleys since then to discuss government formation but consensus has eluded them.
The fresh notice was issued today after a meeting of representatives of two dozen political parties made a formal request to the President’s office for extension of the deadline.
However, a meeting of the three major parties held at Singhdurbar Secretariat building failed to reach any agreement regarding formation of a consensus government. The meeting was attended by Maoist chairman Prachanda, Nepali Congress acting president Shushil Koirala and UML president Jhala Nath Khanal. Succumbing to intense pressure from the Opposition Maoists, Madhav Kumar Nepal quit the Prime Minister’s post on June 30 after 13 months in power, to make way for a “consensus” national government. —PTI