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CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Rastriya Swatantra Party Chairman Rabi Lamichhane held a meeting at the latter’s residence in Balkot, Bhaktapur on Friday. During the meeting, the duo discussed power sharing mechanisms among other issues. “The two leaders discussed the process of forming a new government among other issues on Friday night,” a Balkot source said. The UML, which emerged as the second largest party from the recently held elections, has been holding consultations with various parties to discuss the process of government formation. Oli and Lamichhane held the meeting as part of the same, the source said. “The ruling coalition has also taken ahead the process to form a new government. As the second largest party, we also deserve to lead the government. That is why, we are intensifying meetings with leaders of various other political parties,” a party leader said. The UML won 78 seats and the Rastriya Swatantra Party secured 20 seats in the November 20 elections.  

The CPN (Maoist Centre) has decided to elect the Parliamentary Party leader only after the House of Representatives (HoR) members elected under the proportional representation (PR) system on behalf of the party receive certificates of the election. The Election Commission (EC) is scheduled to present certificates to the candidates elected under the PR system on December 18. Chief secretary at the Office of the CPN (Maoist Centre), Shreeram Dhakal said that there is no dispute on choosing the Parliamentary Party leader like other parties. He said that existing parliamentary leader and party Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ is highly likely to get elected to the post unanimously.   The party has no differing views in regard with electing the leader unanimously. The party has won 18 seats under the first-past-the-post system and 14 towards the PR in the HoR during November 20 elections.  

CPN (Maoist Center) Pushpa Kamal Dahal held separate meetings with Nepal Samajbadi Party Chairman Baburam Bhattarai and Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand to discuss power sharing and to chart out a future strategy. On the occasion, the leaders discussed power sharing and the role of coalition, a Khumaltar source said. Recently, Dahal has intensified meetings with leaders of various political parties to ask them to help him in the prime ministerial race. Earlier on December 5, a meeting of the ruling coalition had decided to form a new government from the incumbent alliance. But, the Maoist Center leaders have intensified meetings and behind-the-curtain negotiations at present to form the new government under their party's leadership. Also Read: Dahal’s power grab ploy Dahal has been urging the Nepali Congress leaders to help him become the prime minister in the first phase after the elections, saying that he made Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba the prime minister by his efforts following a dispute in the Nepal Communist Party. A way to form a new government has been opened after the Election Commission submitted the election results report to President Bidya Devi Bhandari today. There is a provision that the President has to a Parliament meeting after the government recommends the date to the President to convene a meeting of the House of Representatives.  

Janamat Party led by CK Raut became a national party after winning six seats in the federal parliament in the Nov 20 election. Raut, who forayed into politics as a radical outsider with his free-Madhes campaign, has tempered his hardline opinion over the years. Now his party has joined mainstream politics and is in the position where it could join the would-be coalition government. Pratik Ghimire of ApEx talks to Raut regarding his political journey and his party.  

You boycotted the 2017 polls and now you are leading a national party in the federal parliament. How has the experience been so far?

We should accept natural changes. At some point, the Nepali Congress also boycotted the elections. The Maoists said that they do not accept the parliamentary system, and now they are in the parliament. This happens in politics.  It was exciting to participate in the election for the first time. I am excited about how this opportunity will be, and how much success we will achieve. But I have always kept in mind that if we fail, the people will not trust us anymore, and we have to accept that. We have no excuse to be like other ordinary parties.

You started off as a free-Madhes campaigner, only to join mainstream politics to the surprise of many. Can we expect other surprises from you and your party?

People may be surprised because they think traditionally. I make important and quick decisions. I can go against what is going on in society and prevail for the better. I don't have big agendas and ambitions at least. I don’t even want to promise anything big. The reason we established this party is to advocate for common people and provide them employment. This country can be made better by creating job opportunities and controlling corruption. For these, I have made all the decisions. These are not surprises, but the need of the hour.

Is this the right time for your party to get involved in government or strengthen the party organization?

We are now a national party and with six MPs in the federal parliament, we are a decent political force. It is necessary to involve and engage the government to meet our demands. We will work to build the internal system of the party, and I'm sure that involvement in the government won’t hamper our party system.

The past governments have failed to honor the agreements reached in favor of Madhes. The people of Madhes don’t seem to be in favor of Madhes-based parties joining the government either. Do you think the government will address the demands of Madhes the agreements this time? 

The governments so far have not been sincere in implementing the agreements. The agreements made by the previous governments with other parties have not been implemented. So, we have been in regular talks with all the parties. We will take the side of the party that is willing to take ownership of our agendas. And I don’t think Madhesi people don’t want us to be in the government. The downfall of other Madhes-based parties was caused due to the path they took for power and personal benefits. Janamat Party is different and it has a clean background. 

How does Janamat Party distinguish itself from other Madhes-based parties?

Janamat Party is not a party that broke off from another party to gain power or opportunity. We have built this party from scratch. Janamat Party is run by the people who do not wish to earn a position of power or money. They joined politics to improve the standard of living of the people. It is a party of people who come from a struggling background.