KATHMANDU, JANUARY 1The Madhav Kumar Nepal-led CPN (Unified Socialist)'s standing committee today put off the decision on whether or not to extend support to the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led seven-party alliance government. CPN-MC could leave alliance Ruling alliance assured of CPN (US) backing Senior CPN (US) leader and former prime minister Jhalanath Khanal said majority of leaders who spoke in the party's standing committee meeting were of the view that the party should wait and watch before deciding whether or not to support the Dahal-led government. "Most speakers said that although the government appeared to be dominated by left forces, its survival depended on the support of other parties - regressive or revivalist forces.

We will decide on supporting the government only after looking at its policies," Khanal added.He said his party would also analyse whether or not the government would need its support.CPN (US) Spokesperson Jagannath Khatiwada said his party had not yet got any formal proposal from any of ruling alliance partners to join the government.The CPN (US) has called a meeting of the party's politburo tomorrow, following which it would make public its stance on contemporary issues - whether or not they should support the Dahal-led government or merge with other parties.Earlier, CPN (US) Deputy General Secretary Ganga Lal Tuladhar told mediapersons that most leaders of the party who spoke in the standing committee meeting said the UML had spread the rumour of CPN (US)'s merger with the UML, but party leaders should dispel such rumours."Our party leaders said that if we did not dispel such rumours that could disappoint the party rank and file and they could become inactive in the party," Tuladhar added.Tuladhar said many party leaders said that the Dahal-led government would continue even without the CPN (US) support, but since Dahal was a partner of the Nepali Congress-led alliance, in which the CPN (US) was also a partner, it would be appropriate for the CPN (US) to extend support to the Dahal government.Dahal had personally met CPN (US) leaders seeking their support, but has not yet sent any formal letter to the party seeking its support.At the time of formation of the government, Dahal had the support of 169 members of the HoR, belonging to the CPN-UML, Rastriya Swatantra Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, three other parties, along with three independents.

The Dahal-led government will have to seek a vote of confidence in the HoR within 30 days of its formation."Although it appears that the government is led by the CPN-MC and the CPN-UML, it is a badly stitched coalition," Tuladhar added.CPN-UML Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai told THT that his party was ready to collaborate with the CPN (US) and allow it to join the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led coalition government.Asked if the UML would accept CPN (US) proposal to make Madhav Kumar Nepal the new president, Bhattarai said his party would not accept any condition for collaboration."We have not discussed anything with the CPN (US) and do not know if it has set any preconditions for collaboration," he added.A version of this article appears in the print on January 2, 2023, of The Himalayan Times. .

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