KATHMANDU (AFP) — Nepal's Maoists said Saturday the country's prime minister has asked their leader Prachanda to form the country's next government.
The former rebels emerged as the surprise winners in landmark polls last month, garnering more than twice as many seats in a new constitution-drafting assembly as their nearest rivals.
"Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirla asked chairman Prachanda to get ready to form and lead the government as the Maoists won the most number of seats in the constituent assembly elections," senior Maoist leader CP Gajurel told AFP.
A spokesman in the prime minister's office declined to comment.
Gajurel said the prime minister also promised to support the Maoists in forming the government.
"We have already started consultations with other parties over the formation of a coalition government. It's essential to have a coalition as it is the people's verdict," said Gajurel, who was elected to the constituent assembly in April's polls.
The Maoists, known formally as the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists), waged a decade-long insurgency to topple the monarchy and install a communist republic, but have since embraced democracy.
The party emerged as the largest single winner in the elections to the assembly whose first tasks will be to abolish the monarchy and draft the impoverished country's new constitution.
The Maoist official gave no time frame for Koirala to step down and the Maoist-led government to take power.
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