Leader of ruling coalition warns of presidential rule in Nepal

A senior leader of the ruling CPN (UML) has claimed that grave conspiracies were being hatched to dissolve the Constituent Assembly and impose a presidential rule. UML vice chairman Ashok Rai said, some Nepali Congress leaders had approached his party leadership with a proposal to dissolve the CA, impose a presidential rule and promulgate a new constitution by forming a Constitutional Commission.
Addressing a party function in Kathmandu Saturday, Rai said, his party leadership had rejected the proposal outright. They (NC leaders) came saying the constitution drafted by the present CA in present condition will be pro-Maoists, we should not let that happen, lets dissolve the CA and form a commission to write the constitution, he said.

However, Rai refused to disclose the name and level of leaders who came with such proposal and in what context the proposal was made. Rai further added, we need to be cautious as such proposal might come again. Some power centres are involved in a ‘design’ of destroying the country, Rai said labeling the Limbuwan, Khumbuwan and Madhesi agitations as parts of the design.

Nepali Congress senior leaders have refuted Rai’s claim calling it a ploy to tarnish NC’s image. NC spokesperson Arjun Narsingh KC said, none of the leaders in NC at any level have such opinion.
It is irresponsible on part of such senior leader (Rai) to give such remarks without specifying the name of the person, said KC challenging Rai to disclose the name of the leaders who put forward such proposal.
NC vice chairman Ram Chandra Poudel also refuted the claim saying NC had become a scapegoat in groupism within the UML.