Nepal fails to form consensus government as deadline expires

Nepal fails to form consensus government as deadline expires

2011-08-25 08:09:08 GMT+7 (ICT)

KATHMANDU (BNO NEWS) -- Nepalese politicians on Wednesday failed to form a unity government as the extended deadline granted by President Ram Baran Yadav expired, the Himalayan Times reported.

The extended deadline to form the national consensus government expired at 5 p.m. local time after both UCPN-Maoist and the Nepali Congress, which was claiming for the government leadership, were unable to reach an agreement. The politicians had previously requested the president to grant three more days after the parties failed to meet the first deadline on August 21.

According to the newspaper, the Legislature-Parliament will now have to elect the new prime minister based on majority votes.

Nepal is currently under a caretaker administration led by Jhala Nath Khanal, who resigned on August 14 after six months and 11 days at the top post. The premier, who was elected in February after seven months of political stalemate, quit after the government failed to conclude major tasks of the peace process and forge consensus.

The main challenges which Khanal faced during his tenure was the formation of a consensus government and the drafting of the constitution. A new constitution was a condition of a 2006 peace agreement which the Maoists signed with the government, ending a decade-long civil war.

Khanal was elected in February after months of political stalemate, and analysts expect a similar situation this time. The parliament was forced to meet 17 times before choosing the new leader.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-08-25