Previous Nepal-China pacts will be implemented, Dahal tells China

With the one week allocated by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari to the parties to come up with consensual candidate for new prime minister ending today without yielding any result, the Legislature Parliament is preparing to hold the election of the new PM under majority system on Wednesday. The remarks by Chinese ambassador came at a time when there are media reports that India was behind the move to topple Oli-led government paving way for Prachanda to become Prime Minister once again.

Addressing a national convention of the farmers organized by All Nepal Peasants’ Federation (Revolutionary), Chair Dahal further said that the major task of the new government would be the implementation of the new constitution.

Babin Sharma, press adviser to the speaker, told journalists the speaker had received a letter from the president’s office regarding the election of the next prime minister in line with Articles 305 and 299 (3) of the Constitution. A panel headed by the secretary general of Parliament will conduct the polls.

CPN-UML will also file nomination for the premiership and the name of the candidate will be decided by Tuesday, according to UML Chief Whip Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal.

Nepal’s Maoist leader Prachanda assured China that key bilateral deals with Beijing, including the one that could end India’s monopoly in transport to the landlocked country, reached during the previous regime would be honoured even after a new government takes over.

“Former speaker Nembang will contest from our party”, said CPN-UML lawmaker Rabindra Adhikari.

Besides the Nepali Congress and the Maoists, an alliance of parties from the Madhes region bordering India and several other smaller parties are expected to vote for Prachanda.