Kathmandu, May. 6

CPN-UML Sunday decided that the party would not join the Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai-led government immediately.

A central committee meeting of the party followed by a standing committee meeting held at party headquarters Balkhu this afternoon concluded that the UCPN-Maoist was trying to bypass the five-point agreement and took such a decision.

The party also decided to hold a meeting with the UCPN-Maoist for trying to ‘minimise’ the party in course of forming a consensus government.

It accused Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai of ignoring their party (UML) in power sharing in the government.

It also strongly opposed the PM’s monopoly decision to give the important ministerial portfolios to the Madhes-based parties.

Most of the central working committee members suggested that the party should not be a part of the government.

After the meeting the party central secretariat issued a statement objecting to the changes made in the structure of some ministries and the shares of the ministerial posts against the spirit of the five-point agreement.

UML was a signatory of the five point agreement that had changed the present government into a national consensus one.

Central member Keshav Devkota said that the PM violated the five-point agreement by distributing

ministries to the Madhes-based parties on his own and the UML should not be a coalition partner of the government.

"They inked the agreement to form a consensus government but expanded it on their own will," he said.

When the central committee meeting failed to finalise the issue, it gave the responsibility to the standing committee to decide whether to join the government.

A meeting of the standing committee held later also concluded that the Prime Minister violated the five-point agreement and decided not to join the government.

"However, we have decided to support the peace and constitution writing process from the opposition bench," said Devkota.

Meanwhile, CPN-UML leader KP Oli said that his party would join the governmmnet if the Maoists honeslty implemented the five-point deal.

Addressing a mass rally organised by Nawalparasi district committee of UML in Nawalaprasi, Oli said that his party would never be ready accept the ethnicity-based federalism in the new constiution.

He said that the UCPN-Maoist was not a communist party and added that no communist party practiced politics of anarchy.

He urged the Maoists to correct their political behaviour and stressed that the UML was serious to promulgate the new constiution wihtin stipulated deadline.