Nepali Congress General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula said on Saturday that major parties could lead the government on a rotational basis until full implementation of the new constitution.

In an interview with the Post, Sitaula said at least parties united for constitutution promulgation must remain in the next government in case it is not possible to form a ‘national unity government’.

Sitaula, however, stressed for a unity government saying that only such government will manage the problems that would come while implementing the new constitution. “If there is a unity government, we can hold three elections—- local, federal and central Parliament—in next three years,” said Sitaula.

According to Sitaula, NC has not held discussions on the new leadership of the government. However, CPN-UML leaders have been claiming that there has been an informal understanding that their party chairman KP Oli will the be next prime minister after statute promulgation. Asked whether Oli will lead the new government, Sitaula said he cannot confirm without formal discussions within his party.

Chief Whip of CPN-UML Agni Kharel, a close confident of Oli, said a national unity government is required for effective implementation of the new constitution. He claimed that UML will take leadership of the government after promulgation of the statute.

The main opposition party UCPN (Maoist) has not said anything about the formation of a new government. The party has nevertheless mentioned that it could join the government if there is ‘agreement on social and economic transformations’.

Along with the prime Minister, there will be elections for President, Vice-president, CA Chairman and Vice-chairman. The three major parties are likely to seek a package deal on them. The issue of power-sharing will take centre stage after the promulgation of the new constitution on Sunday.

However, formation of a new government has been pushed back with the Parliament session adjourned on Saturday. As per the new constitution, election of a new prime minister should be done within seven days of its promulgation if Parliament session is running. With Prime Minister Sushil Koirala leaving for New York to attend the UN General Assembly (UNGA) meeting on September 23, the new government formation process will begin once he returns.

The UML, second largest party in the CA and coalition partner of the incumbent government, has started its efforts to lead the next government. Before Koirala was elected the prime minister in February 2014, the NC had pledged its support to UML for the government to be formed after the constitution promulgation. While signing the 16-point agreement in June, major parties had informally agreed to form an all-party government under the UML.