Citing non-compliance of their agenda by major parties, the CPN-Maoist on Tuesday decided not to attend the previously agreed all-party national political conference. A 33-party alliance led by them also decided to boycott the meet.
Soon after, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala announced its “postponement”. “When the party that had proposed the conference fails to turn up, there is no point in going ahead,” the PM said. “I am saddened by their decision.”
The conference — a long-standing demand of Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist — was to be held at the Constituent Assembly (CA) premises on Tuesday to try and reach consensus on contentious issues, including federalism, system of governance and electoral system.
CPN-Maoist leader Pampha Bhushal blamed the government and the three big parties — the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and the UCPN (Maoist) — for their decision to back out.