How do you evaluate the criticism of prime minister Sushil Koirala by CPN-UML leaders?

This is very unethical and immoral. I don’t understand why CPN-UML leaders are criticizing prime minister Sushil Koirala for the failure of the government. They cannot blame prime minister Koirala for the failure of their ministers in the government. They should not treat their colleagues of the cabinet as enemies. It is against the fundamental principles of the coalition government. In a prime ministerial system, the prime minister is the supreme. They must accept this fact.

Who do you blame now for the failure of the government to nominate 26 members and appoint secretaries and ambassadors?

You cannot blame Nepali Congress and prime minister Koirala alone for all this. So far as I know, these tasks are delayed due to CPN-UML. CPN-UML leaders requested the prime minister not to take such a decision before their General Convention. They cannot blame our ministers and prime minister for their failure.

As CPN-UML leaders have already threatened that they will quit the coalition government led by Koirala, how do you look at this?

CPN-UML leaders have every right to quit the coalition government. If they have the guts, they should pull out from the government. Instead of criticizing prime minister Koirala, they can withdraw from the government.

Don’t you think the government will be in minority then?

I don’t think so. We will find out other coalition partners. If CPN-UML really wants to pull out from the government, they can do so.  There are other parties which are showing interest to work with us.

Have you started negotiations with other parties?

We have not started negotiations, but we are in constant touch with other parties about their representation in the government.

In case CPN-UML pulls out of the government, with whom will your party make the new alliance?

Let CPN-UML withdraw from the government first. We will form another coalition soon after that. There are other parties in Legislature Parliament, too.

Are you negotiating with them now?

If CPN-UML pulls out from the government, it is natural for us to search another coalition partner. Since no political party has a majority, there must be ways to form another coalition government.

How serious is the threat of CPN-UML?

I don’t want to comment on that. If CPN-UML wants to be a part of coalition, they must not criticize the government and prime minister and respect the coalition culture.

If the coalition falls, don’t you think it will delay the promulgation of the new constitution by February?

I don’t think it can make any difference. Even if CPN-UML pulls out from the government, we can make another coalition and promulgate the new constitution by February.

What do you say about the CPN-UML’s demand to reconfirm the president and vice president from Legislature-Parliament as per the agreement signed by them during the course of the formation of government?

I opposed that part of the agreement when it was inked. This is totally unconstitutional.  I don’t understand the rationale behind raising this demand at this juncture when the Constituent Assembly is in the process of constitution writing.