CPN leader Bam Dev Gautam has refused to go to the National Assembly saying he will contest the election only if he is guaranteed the post of prime minister (PM).
CPN Chairmen KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal had proposed to make vice-chairman designate Gautam and Spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha candidates during the secretariat meeting Friday morning. While Shrestha accepted the proposal, Gautam put conditions before contesting the election.
"He proposed amendment of the Constitution as it doesn't allow him to become the prime minister as a National Assembly member," Shrestha told Setopati. "He sought guarantee for the post of prime minister and Constitution amendment."
Shrestha revealed that the chairmen said the Constitution cannot be amended immediately after Gautam finished speaking.
The Constitution states that the leader of a party with majority in the House of Representatives (HoR) becomes PM. National Assembly members can become federal ministers but not the PM.
Gautam has been recently staking claim for the post of PM pointing that he has helped the majority of CPN leaders become PM and he should also be allowed to head the government once.
Shrestha, on his part, said there has been no discussion about future responsibility for him as he is just a candidate for National Assembly now. "I have no ambition. I will fulfill the duty given by the party," he stated. "But I won't play any non-executive role."
CPN has decided to field Indu Gautam in women's quota, Gopi Achhami in Dalit and Devendra Dahal from Province 1.
It will, similarly, field Tulasa Dahal in women's quota and Radheshyam Paswan in Dalit from Province 2. Ganga Belbase will contest in women's quota and standing committee member Beduram Bhusal in others from Province 3.
Bhagawati Neupane will contest in women's quota and spokesperson Shrestha in others from Gandaki. Likewise, Bimala Ghimire will be fielded in women's quota, Jag Prasad Sharma in disabled and minority, and Gopal Bhattarai in others from Province 5.
Similarly, Maya Prasad Sharma will contest in others and Sunita BC in women's quota in Karnali while Sharada Bhatta will be fielded in women's quota and Tara Man Swar in others from Far West.
