Madhav Nepal Gripped by Tension as Coalition Crisis Looms

Madhav Kumar Nepal, Chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist), pleaded with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, urging him to avert a potential fracture within the ruling coalition amidst escalating tensions over the coveted position of Chair of the National Assembly.

In a crucial meeting held at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, Madhav Nepal, accompanied by Vice Chairman Rajendra Pandey, engaged in deliberations with Prachanda to address the contentious issue gripping the coalition.

The rift, stemming from competing claims by the ruling party Nepali Congress and the CPN-Maoist Center, has cast a shadow over the stability of the alliance. Both parties have laid stake to the Chairmanship of the National Assembly, escalating concerns of a coalition crisis.

Expressing grave concerns over the looming discord, Madhav Nepal implored Prachanda to prioritize the unity of the alliance above individual party interests. “As both Congress and the Maoists are claiming chairmanship in the National Assembly, won’t this potentially lead to problems within the alliance?” queried Chairman Nepal, emphasizing the imperative of consensus to avert a rupture.

In response, Prime Minister Prachanda acknowledged the internal pressures within his party regarding the coveted position. However, he asserted the Maoist Center’s rightful claim to the Chairmanship, citing the absence of Maoists in the Constitutional Council in the future.

Chairman Nepal, underscoring the paramount importance of coalition solidarity, urged for a mutually acceptable resolution between the Congress and the Maoists to preserve the integrity of the alliance. “No matter whom you choose as the Chairman of the National Assembly, the alliance must remain intact,” emphasized Nepal, stressing the urgency of consensus-building to navigate through the crisis.