CPN (UML) leader Jhal Nath Khanal.
A day after emerging victorious from the eighth general Convention of CPN (UML), newly elected chairman Jhala Nath Khanal on Wednesday said his first priority is to form a government of national consensus. He also said that he will try to include Nepali Congress (NC) in the coalition government to go about this task.

Speaking at a press conference organized by Rupandehi district chapter of Press Chautari in Butwal, Khanal said UML will from now on play a proactive role in enhancing consensus, cooperation and unity among the political parties while at the same time vowing to protect the party from being overtly influenced by the “ultra leftists and rightists” party.

By ultra leftists he was clearly referring to the Maoists and by rightists he was referring to NC.

Khanal denied rumours about UML being involved in ploys to topple the current government and said the need now is not a change in government but unity among the political forces “for stability and peace” in the country.

Khanal said the eighth general convention of the party has strengthened UML’s democratic values and that the party will give continuity to it in the future.

He also compared the overwhelming victory of the Maoists in the constituent assembly election to “a flood in mountain rivers that dries up shortly”.

CPN (UML) is not a centrist party but a revolutionary one and has always played an influential role in the country’s politics, Khanal added. nepalnews.com ia/ag Feb 25 09