By IANS,
Kathmandu : Madhav Kumar Nepal could become the new prime minister of Nepal with his CPN-UML-led alliance getting the crucial support from a Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) faction, media reports said Sunday.
The Bijay Gachchhadar led MJF faction’s decision to support the CPN-UML led government came after a meeting of leaders of UML, Nepali Congress, MJF and Bijay Gachchhadar-led faction of MJF Sunday morning, Kantipuronline news portal reported.
During the meeting that was held at Nepali Congress chief Girija Prasad Koirala’s resident in Maharajgunj, the 35-member Gachchhadar-led faction of MJF agreed to lend its support to the UML-NC alliance, the Nepalnews reported.
“The party took this decision (to support the UML-NC alliance), coming to conclusion that the country should not remain without a government for long,” Gachchhadar told media persons.
There were also reports that Gachchhadar was promised the plum post of deputy-prime minister/home minister, which was earlier held by CPN-UML leader Bam Dev Gautam.
MJF, which holds a decisive role in the new government formation process, is deeply divided on which party to support for the new coalition. While the Gachchhadar-led faction supported the UML-led alliance, another faction led by party Chairman Upendra Yadav – with 18 members – has announced its support to the Maoists.
CPN-UML has elected its 54-year-old veteran leader Madhav Kumar Nepal to head an alliance government, and if things go smoothly, Nepal will form the next government soon.
Nepal has been struggling to stitch a government since Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda’s resignation May 4 over his dispute with President Ram Baran Yadav, who reinstated Army Chief General Rukmangad Katawal, dismissed by the Maoist supremo.