Big 3-Madeshi Front meeting inconclusive

THT ONLINE

KATHMANDU: A meeting of major political forces, held on Saturday evening, failed to make a solid decision regarding the resolution of contentious issues in the constitution-in-the-making.

The top leaders of UCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and United Democratic Madhesi Front parties sat together in a bid to discuss and forge an agreement regarding the thorny issues including state restructuring and forms of governance.

The meeting was held at one of the meeting halls in the the Constituent Assembly building in New Baneshwor with the participation of Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala and CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal among others.

The meeting will resume tomorrow.

Though the parties have claimed that they are close to an agreement, it has been learnt that they are divided over the concept of purported constitutional court and differences over the citizenship have resurfaced.

After the meeting, the Maoist and Madhesi leaders accused the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML of trying to stick to the old constitution and preventing any solution.

According to Maoist leader Khim Lal Devkota, the NC and the UML even retreated from the understanding on Constitutional Court, which was forged in the Constiutional Committee's Problem Resolution Sub-Committee earlier.

Earlier today, bilateral talks were held between and betwixt the parties.

The parties are still at odds over the issues like forms of governance, state restructuring and federalism, election system, judiciary, and citizenship when only 37 days are left to meet the May 27 deadline to promulgate a new statute.