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Six fruitless months end in Premier Khanal’s resignation
by Kalpit Parajuli
Opposition parties accuse him of conspiring to bring Maoists back into power. A new constitution now cannot be drafted by the deadline of 31 August. President Yadav calls for a new coalition government.
Kathmandu (AsiaNews) – Under pressure from opposition parties and blackmailed by the Maoists, Nepal ‘s Communist prime minister, Jhalanath Khanal, resigned after six months at the helm of the government. The decision was made official last night.
Announced on 28 July, Khanal’s resignation follows pressure by the Nepali Congress (NC), the main opposition party. In recent months, the NC had accused the prime minister of being involved in a conspiracy with Maoist leader Prachanda to bring the former guerrillas back into power without their prior disarmament. About 19,000 Maoist fighters are still confined to training camps.
At a press conference, Khanal said he could not bring the various parties together around a new constitution, and finalise the peace process by 31 August as set out by the United Nations. Both are crucial elements to complete the transition towards democracy after centuries of monarchy and ten years of civil war.
Yesterday, President Ram Barav Yadav urged political parties to work for a new coalition government. However, analysts agree no single party is in a position to reach a consensus among political parties.
Khanal’s failure comes in the wake of a similar attempt by former Communist Prime Minister Khumar Nepal. After the latter resigned in June 2010, the country was left without a head of government for seven months.
In 2006, the United Nations and Nepal’s caretaker government of the time worked out a peace deal designed to bring about the country’s first democratic constitution and the integration of Maoist fighters.
In 2008, the Maoists under Prachanda won the election, but in May 2009, he resigned over a dispute with the president and the head of armed forces.
Maoists remain Nepal’s largest party. Through strikes and protests, they have used tried to undermine the governments that succeeded them, causing a political and economic deadlock.