UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Saturday said the Maoist party is open for discussion  with other parties for an “honourable solution” if the prime ministerial election scheduled for Monday fails to yield any result.
In a meeting with Speaker Subas Nembang, Dahal exuded confidence that the House would elect a majority government under his leadership.
“In case the election is indecisive again, we are open to an honourable solution,” sources quoted Dahal as saying. “We will not surrender and neither will we get tired of these failures. Being the largest party in the parliament, we should lead the new government,” added the source. Dahal also said his party has not yet thought of an amendment to the CA rules for starting a new procedure to elect the prime minister.
A Maoist leader told the Post that on one condition his party can be flexible on the amendment. “The amendment must ensure that the leader of the largest party of the parliament should lead a majority government and prove his majority in the House within 35 days of appointment,” said the leader. “We have continued consultations with parties to form a new government. The House will elect a new prime minister on Monday,” Dahal told reporters after an hour long meeting. The comeback of Dahal in the seat of the prime minister is dependent upon the decision of Samyukta  Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, the alliance of four Madhes based parties.
In the meeting, Nembang urged for an early solution to the ongoing dilly-dallying on electing a  new prime minister. “I explained the situation and underlined the need for political consensus to end this impasse,” said Speaker Nembang. The Speaker urged the Maoist chairman to implement the first point of the May 28 deal saying that a national consensus government was still possible if issues related to the peace process were addressed by the Maoists.
Responding to that, Dahal voiced commitment to continue efforts for forming a unity government if he gets elected by the House. He said the new government, if formed under his leadership, would regroup the combatants choosing the option of integration and rehabilitation in two to three weeks.
http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/07/31/top-story/ucpn-m-casts-about-for-success/211040/

2.Madhesi front nay to Dahal
By Ishwar Rauniyar in the Kathmandu Post
Kathmandu, July 31: With two days left for the third round of the prime ministerial election, Madhes-based leaders said they are all set to stay neutral.
Though the UCPN (Maoist) on Saturday despatched its commitment letter in writing over the 16-point concept paper, which was presented on July 12 by the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM), Madhesi leaders claim that the paper was unable to address their major demands. “Our major demands haven’t been addressed by the Maoists,” said a Madhesi leader,  adding that despite their desire to vote for the Maoists, the party’s commitment letter disappointed them.
The Maoists have rejected the Madhesi’s demands of ‘One Madhes one autonomous state’, saying it is against the party’s policy. The letter further stated that though the Maoists are not ready to mention ‘Bahulbaad’ (pluralism) in the constitution, the party can agree to multi-party competition.
The Maoists also refused to divulge the number of thier combatants to be integrated as demanded by SLMM.  The SLMM that represents 82 seats in the 601-member Constituent Assembly will play a crucial role in breaking the deadlock in the prime ministerial race if it agrees to support the largest party — Maoists that has 238 seats.
Chief Whip of Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum Loktantrik (MJF-L), Ram Janam Chaudhary said, “The political development  shows that SLMM will stay neutral.” Ram Sahay Yadav, general secretary of MJF said that Maoist concept paper contains ambiguous statements.
Meanwhile, a senior leader in the SLMM said that the Maoists have started horse-trading in the CA. “We have been getting reports that Maoists are offering large amounts of money to lure lawmakers asking for their support,” said a source adding that Maoists have challenged that they would anyhow split the SLMM alliance. “In this situation how can we vote for them,” the leader added.
SLMM alliance comprises MJF-L, MJF, Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) and Mahato led Sadbhavana Party.
However, Rajendra Mahato, Chairman of Sadbhavana Party said that the SLMM’s Sunday’s meeting will take the official decision on the issue. “We are waiting for the Nepali Congress’s letter. After we get SLMM’d reply we will take the official decision,” said Mahato.
Co-Chair of MJF Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta said the possibility of staying neutral is high.  
Commenting on the threat of Janatantrik Tarai Madhesh Mukti Morcha that it would “take physical action against Madhesi parties if they cooperate with the Maoists”, Yadav said SLMM is not afraid of the threat.http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/07/31/top-story/madhesi-front-nay-to-dahal/211041/

3.‘UML will stay neutral’
BAGLUNG, Auf 1: Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Rakam Chemjong said on Sunday that his party CPN-UML will stay neutral in the third prime ministerial run-off elections scheduled for August 2.
Speaking at a press meet organised by Press Chautari Nepal today morning, Chemjong stated that the party will not support any prime ministerial candidate unless an atmosphere favourable for the formation of a national consensus government is created.
He underscored that a majority government will not last long in the sensitive circumstances like the current. http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/08/01/top-story/uml-will-stay-neutral/319604/

4.Transportation halted for second day in Mechi zone
MECHI, AUG 01 – Vehicular movement has come to a grindling halt in Mechi zone on Sunday, the second consecutive day, due to the Mechi zone banda called by the transport entrepreneurs.
Both long and short distance vehicles have not plied the roads leaving thousands of passengers in lurch. Normal life in the region have been crippled while the streets have worn a deserted look.
Passengers heading for eastern districts including Jhapa, Mechi, and Sikkim and Darjeeling of India from the Capital and western Nepal have been stranded in Urlabari and Damak following the obstruction.
The transporters resorted to the protest to press demanding compensations that were promised to the families of deceased drivers Sher Bahadur Magar and Deepak Pandey. They said the local administration has not provided provided the assured compensation.
Earlier, the administration had agreed to provide  Rs 1 million and Rs. 350,000, in compensation, to the families of Magar and Pandey respectively.  http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/08/01/top-story/transportation-halted-for-second-day-in-mechi-zone/319599/

5.’Parties tossed 1950 Nepal-India treaty to winds’: Kantiur report, Aug 1
Kathmandu:- Analysts and experts have charged the political parties of downplaying the advantages of the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
“Treaty amendment is necessary but annulling it may not be in Nepal’s favour,” said Daman Nath Dhungana, political analyst and human rights activist. “The parties’ inability to forward a written proposal to India for revising the treaty proves their lack of preparation and research on the matter.”
“The issue has been raised merely as a pop
ularity tool,” he said. “We have still not been able to make optimum utilisation of the treaty.” Anshuman Kaur, representative of the Indian embassy in Kathmandu, said no political party had, by far, submitted a written proposal on revising the treaty.
“The treaty is largely beneficial to Nepal since it assures equal economic and social opportunities for Nepalis living in India. Nepalis can establish their own business, they can buy houses, land and they can even be employed as an Indian government official,” said Kaur. “However, respecting the sentiments of Nepal’s demand, the Government of India has been committing time and again to cooperate in revising the treaty.” Despite
the commitment, Nepal’s leaders have failed to take the issue any forth, added Kaur.
However, the 10-point treaty signed by the then Indian ambassador to Nepal and Rana Prime Minister Mohan Shumsher Janga Bahadur Rana, experts claim, includes points that have been addressed neither by India nor Nepal. For instance, both the nations have not abided by the second, fifth, seventh and eighth articles of the treaty.
“While the treaty clearly says Nepal can use only the Indian soil to import arms, it has imported ammunition from China and Belgium during the premiership of Marichman Shrestha and Sher Bahadur Deuba, respectively,” said territorial expert Budhi Narayan Shrestha.
“Similarly, India didn’t inform Nepal about its cold war with China in 1960s, which is against the spirit of the second article. Besides, Indians are not allowed to buy houses or land in Nepal, which goes against the seventh article.”
According to Shrestha, a new treaty should be signed with India that is beneficial for both the neighbours.
Meanwhile, speaking at a programme organised to mark the 60th anniversary of the treaty, political analyst C.K. Lal said it was impossible to make amendments to the treaty unless “we” formed a new constitution and a national unity government. “At this critical stage, when we are not able to form a government, it’s impractical to consider more serious issues like amending the treaty,” he said. “Ample preparation and research on the issue is necessary.”
http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/08/01/national/parties-tossed-1950-nepal-india-treaty-to-winds/319588/