Chief Minister of the Gandaki Province, Prithvi Subba Gurung has said seeking alternative to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in the present difficult period in the country is like opting for ‘burning firewood’ instead of electricity.

He said so alluding to the current row within the ruling Nepal Communist Party where some leaders are talking of seeking alternative to PM Oli.

Chief Minister Gurung made this statement while speaking in a programme at Chiti, Beshishahar Municipality-11 on Tuesday.

On the occasion, he initiated the work of black topping of the Udipur-Riththebagar-Ramchokbesi- Nautharbesi-Shera road section.

Chief Minister Gurung said both the party chairmen have made important contribution in the campaign of building a united communist party and that their dialogue and cooperation was inevitable.

He also cautioned that this was not the time to topple the government and change the party chairman.

“The people have given the present government the mandate to rule for five years. If any leader wanted to become the party chair, he/she should wait until the party’s general convention.

The spirit of the party unification is not the game of ‘majority versus minority’ at present,” said Gurung, who is also the member of the NCP Standing Committee.

He said the voices being raised in favour of restoration of monarchy were meaningless in the present context. The blacktopping of the 7.12 kilometres road is being done with the investment of the Gandaki Province Government at a cost of Rs 262 million 906 thousand 225. The black topping works would be completed within two years.