MJF lawmakers engage in fist fighting

Madheshi Janadhikar Forum lawmakers on Friday created a scene by engaging
in a fist fighting at a parliamentary party meeting in Singha Durbar.

MJF leaders, who have clearly been divided into two factions over the
issue of which party to support in the new coalition, reached such
situation from a debate that started with a petty issue.

The debate started after Mrigendra Singh, a supporter of PP leader Bijaya
Kumar Gachechedar, got more applaud after his speech than party chairman

Upendra Yadav. Yadav supporters objected to the same, saying it was not
appropriate to clap longer for a CA member's speech than for the party
chairman's.

CA members also attempted to snatch away the camera of media persons who
had captured the scene. The meeting was called off following the incident.

PP leader Gachechedar, who is in favour an NC-UML alliance, issued a press
release after the meeting condemning the party leadership and the central
committee of bypassing the PP while taking important decisions.

MJF CC had decided to either form a government under its leadership or
stay out of the government this morning.

Meanwhile, the CPN (UML) has started collecting signatures of
parliamentarians in favour of its senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal.

CA members representing Nepali Congress, Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party
and Sadhbhavana party have submitted their signatures to the UML
parliamentary party office, it is learnt.

UML sources have confirmed the receipt of 114 signatures from NC CA members. nepalnews.com ta May 15 09