Prachanda address to Par put off; PM election set for Saturday

Kathmandu, May 21: Major Nepalese parties today failed to reach a consensus on resolving the political deadlock gripping the country even as the agenda-setting committee of Parliament fixed Saturday for holding the elections to choose a new Prime Minister.

Parliament could not hold its session as Maoists and other political parties struggled to reach a common ground on the agenda in the House, party sources said.

"We will try to reach a consensus by tomorrow when I will address the Parliament session," caretaker Prime Minister and Maoist supremo Prachanda told reporters after a meeting with Speaker Subhas Nemwang and leaders of other political parties.

Earlier in the day, the CPN-UML said Prachanda, who resigned as premier on May 4 following differences with the President, has agreed to end the Maoist blockade of Parliament and issue a statement in the House today on the issue of reinstatement of army chief Gen Rukmangad Katawal.

However, the address has now been put off till tomorrow.

The formation of the CPN-UML-led government had been delayed as the Maoists blocked Parliament for over two weeks on the issue of President Ram Baran Yadav reinstating the army chief who was sacked by Prachanda.

The Parliamentary Business Advisory Committee has decided to conduct the election for a new Prime Minister on Saturday, sources at Parliament Secretariat said. PTI