Nepal PM refuses to resign till consensus on govt

Poudyal hoped Khanal would step down later as there was no other alternative to resolve the crisis.

The political crisis in Nepal deepened on Saturday as a crucial meeting of the main parties failed to agree on a national unity government,even as the embattled Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal backtracked on his promise to resign from the post till a consensus is formed on a new coalition.

The talks failed to make any headway after the main Opposition,Nepali Congress walked out of the meeting,asking Khanal to include the Terai-based Madhesi parties,the fourth-largest group in parliament,in the dialogue for a national coalition.

The Prime Minister,who earlier this month had promised to step down,was neither ready to quit the post nor prepared to include the Madhesi parties in the dialogue,said Ramchandra Poudyal,the vice president of Nepali Congress party.

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Khanal said on Saturday that he should not resign yet because the government has to move a proposal for tenure extension of the constituent Assembly that expires on August 31,and a care-taker government just cannot move an official bill for the purpose.

According to one of the participants in the meeting,Khanal said he is still keen to resign,but for that you must have a consensus carrying a candidate for the post.

Khanal and his current political mentor,as well as Maoist Chief Prachanda,had declared separately last week that the PM would step down on August 13.

Poudyal hoped Khanal would step down later on Saturday as there was no other alternative to resolve the crisis. Maoist leaders ruled out the possibility of integrating the former combatants within the deadline given by the PM,he said.

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