'We will quit govt if President isn't elected from UML'

By Our Correspondent,Musikot, Feb. 24: CPN (UML) secretary Yogesh Bhattarai has said that if the candidate proposed by the UML is not elected as the President, the party will quit the present coalition government.

Secretary Bhattarai made these remarks while addressing a press conference organised by Rukum West-chapter of Press Chautari on Thursday. 

Bhattarai reached Rukum West to lead a two-month long ‘Mission Grassroot’ programme organised by the party aiming to expand the party organisation.

He expressed his confidence that since the current ruling alliance was formed on the proposal of Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Centre) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, the alliance would remain intact.

Mentioning that the UML was in the favour of national consensus, he, however, said that the President should be elected from the present ruling coalition.

Stating that the Prime Minister has not announced the collapse of the current ruling coalition, Bhattarai said, “Every political party is free to take decisions.”

Responding to journalists’ query regarding the role of the UML if the President is elected from the previous coalition, Bhattarai said that the UML would not put its feet into two boats. “If that happens, we will quit the government,” he said. 

However, he insisted that the ruling coalition parties would abide by the December 25 agreement.

Bhattarai, a member of the House of Representatives, said that instead of creating instability and confusion in the country by shifting power equations, the current alliance should be kept intact for stability.

Talking about the Mission Grassroot programme, he said the programme would help bridge the gap between the party and the people.