UML digs in heels on fresh Prez election
KATHMANDU, JAN 08 -
A top UML leader said the party has taken serious exception to incumbent President Ram Baran Yadav’s campaign to grab power and authority to call the first CA meeting. Such an activism of the President, he said, is unconstitutional. “The way the President is campaigning for his prerogatives, which are not in the constitution, indicates that he is trying to hold on to the position for another term,” the leader said, referring to President Yadav’s recent consultations with political parties on CA meet. The controversy on calling the CA meet has already become sub judice with two opposing petitions moving the Supreme Court.
UML leaders said they are equally miffed at the way the NC is acting ever since the CA election. Despite UML ’s frequent requests, the Congress is yet to table a suitable proposal on power sharing. “The NC has not been able to manage time for serious discussion on power sharing, let alone float a convincing proposal,” said UML leader Rabindra Adhikari.
UML leaders argue that the demands from both the President’s Office and the NC to allow the incumbent President to call the first session of the CA is against the constitutional provision that clearly confers the right to the head of the government.
NC’s arguments on calling the first CA meeting and the term of the President are both conflicting and it also shows the party’s double-standard, the UML leaders said.
When it comes to the issue of calling the first CA meet, the NC interprets the constitution as “faulty” and demands for its amendment, the UML leaders said, but on the issue of electing a new President, the NC points out the same constitution to argue that President’s term remains till a new constitution comes into force.
The NC seeks to amend Article 69 (1) that says “the first meeting of the CA shall be held as summoned by the PM within 21 days of final election results.” The amendment, the NC argues, should replace the prime minister with the President in the above mentioned provision. However, on the issue of electing the President, the NC argues that parties should respect the constitutional provision (Article 36-c) which states that “the term of the President shall be effective until the promulgation of the [new] constitution.”
“NC’s double standard has eroded the prestige of the President’s Office and created controversy over non-issue,” said Adhikari. Another senior UML leader added, “We are not concerned what the Maoistswould do on the issue of President’s election but our party will not settle for anything less than a fresh election of the president.”
The UML believes chances of presidential election would be high once the Supreme Court denies the incumbent President to call the first CA meeting. “We will not backtrack from the stance of electing the new President. It is not an issue of the incumbent President Yadav getting re-elected through the CA,” said the UML leader.
The President’s Office, however, denied to make any comment on the matter. “We have nothing say on the matter of electing or endorsing a new President as this is beyond our jurisdiction,” said President’s Advisor Rajendra Dahal
