Xinhua
Kathmandu, May 12 (Xinhua) Representatives of newly elected political parties in Nepal have rejected any kind of sympathy towards the monarchy, the Rising Nepal reported Monday. The 25 parties poised to declare the country a republic within a couple of weeks met Sunday in a formal sitting for the first time to discuss mainly the Constituent Assembly (CA) procedures and formation of the new government.

Even some small parties recognised widely as pro-king did not voice support to give continuity to any kind to monarchy, the report said.

“We should give top priority to national integrity while deciding on the issue,” said Kunti Shahi, CA member of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal led by Kamal Thapa, former home minister under King Gyanendra’s direct rule.

Baburam Bhattarai, leader of Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), who chaired the meeting, said that they would not take any decision without seeking the consensus of even the smaller parties.

Ram Chandra Paudel, Nepali Congress vice president and minister for peace and reconstruction said: “We do not have any option other than to forge consensus for running the country and writing the constitution.”
Xinhua