After Friday's talks ended inconclusively, the CPN-Maoist led 33 party alliance, the four parties , President Ram Baran Yadav, along with other major leaders gathered at Shital Niwas on Sunday afternoon in a final attempt to bring the dissenting faction on board for elections. At the end of the eight hour long marathon talk, the HLPC agreed to show flexibility on election date, but stressed that the 19 November deadline would only be pushed back by a few weeks, not till March-April as the dissenting parties have been demanding. The committee has also agreed to request the Election Commission to extend the deadline for registration and candidate nomination until 30 September-1 October so that parties like the CPN-M would have time to get ready for polls.
The HLPC, however, has requested the Mohan Baidya-led alliance to give up its demand for the resignation of Chairman Khil Raj Regmi from the position of Chief Justice citing fragile political condition and allow the current government to hold the upcoming election. The parties will reconvene at a later date after making the final decision on the proposals.
With two other opposing groups – Ashok Rai’s Federalist Social Party and Upendra Yadav’s coalition of Tarai-based parties – agreeing to contest elections, the CPN-M finds itself with only weaker parties as allies. It declared a banda across 10 districts today and set a bus on fire in Dhulikhel right before the meeting in Shital Niwas. Perhaps Mohan Baidya and team believe they can arm twist the HLPC into acquiescing to its demands through sheer show of force.
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