Kathmandu:
The Nepali Congress, which emerged as the largest party in Constituent Assembly polls, today staked claim to form Nepal's new government but said it was open to working with the CPN-UML to draft a Constitution.
After the Nepali Congress (NC) topped both the direct and proportionate voting systems, its President Sushil Koirala said it is natural that his party should lead the government.
He, however, told a private television channel that NC will seek collaboration with CPN-UML, the second largest party, and other political parties to draft the constitution.
"Constitution drafting is the most important task before us and we need to collaborate with other parties including the CPN-UML," Mr Koirala said.
He said he will try to forge consensus among parties to form the new government. "If consensus is not possible a majority government will be formed with the support of other political parties," he said.
However, the issue of power-sharing figured when CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal met Koirala at his residence this evening and discussed the formation of the government, according to sources.
The two leaders mainly discussed matters related to power-sharing, the sources said without giving details. The election of a new president also figured in the talks.
As no political party has got a clear majority to form a government on its own, a coalition is the only option available, analysts said.
As the counting of votes under the proportionate voting system concluded, Nepali Congress secured 24,21,252 votes out of a total of 93,77,519 valid votes.
CPN-UML was in second place with 22,43,447 votes. The Prachanda-led UCPN-Maoist, the largest party in 2008 polls, was routed and in third place with 14,38,666 votes.
Out of the 240 seats under the direct voting system, results for which have already been announced, NC has bagged 105 seats followed by CPN-UML, which grabbed 91 seats.
UCPN-Maoist was third with 26 seats and the remaining 18 seats went to Madhesi and fringe parties.
After calculating the votes it received from proportionate voting, NC is likely to get seats close to 190.
At least 301 seats are needed to form a majority government.
If NC and CPN-UML forge coalition, then a strong government could be formed. Their combined strengthen will be close to two-thirds majority, which is required for deciding contentious issues while framing the new constitution, analysts said.
The official results to the polls will lead to the formation of a 601-member Constituent Assembly, including 240 elected through direct voting. Proportionate voting will elect 335 members and the remaining 26 will be nominated by the government.