Deadline for formation of govt in Nepal expires

Nepal on Wednesday plunged into deeper political crisis as the third consecutive deadline given by the President to the parties to form a national consensus government expired, leaving the future of the crisis-ridden state in a limbo.

President Ram Baran Yadav had three weeks ago asked political parties to form a national unity government through consensus to replace the caretaker government headed by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai.

The deadline issued by the President was extended twice but very little progress had been made so far to form the national consensus government.

Nepali Congress has projected its president Sushil Koirala as the new prime ministerial candidate after the UCPN-Maoist and CPN-UML had asked the party to name its candidate to head the national government.

However after the Nepali Congress nominated Koirala as the prime ministerial candidate the Maoists have asked the party to show a road map to draft the new constitution before agreeing to form the national government led by Koirala.

Koirala was backed by CPN-UML to lead the national government. A series of meetings held among the major political parties for the last 2-3 days failed to make any headway on the formation of the national unity government even as the twice extended deadline given by the President expired