Big three main parties nearing consensus

RSS

KATHMANDU: The meeting of the top leaders of the three major political parties on Tuesday aimed at reaching consensus on government formation and the disputed issues in constitution writing and said to be close to compromise on the topics of state restructuring and forms of governance.

The meeting of the Chairman of the UCPN-Maoist, the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML that took place at the CPN-UML headquarters at Madan Nagar, Balkhu for about two hours this afternoon discussed state restructuring and the forms of governance, said UML leader Bhim Rawal.

"Discussions have been held on state restructuring and forms of governance and we are somewhat closer to agreement. The meeting of the three parties along with the Madhesi Front is again underway for holding further discussions on the issues to reach a conclusion," he added.

In the meeting, the UCPN-Maoist has become flexible to step down on the number of federal units from 14 to nine while the Nepali Congress has proposed to reach conclusion on seven province model it has floated in connection with the state restructuring.

Rawal said that the main three parties have shown some flexibility to arrive at a consensus on the forms of governance by allocating powers between the President and the Prime Minister, adding there is the condition of the parties presenting themselves in more flexible way compared to the earlier meetings for going for a mixed system on this topic.

NC leader Arjun Narsingh K.C. said although discussions were held on the state restructuring, forms of governance, the electoral system and giving full shape to the government, the meeting has been postponed to be held again at the Constituent Assembly building at Naya Baneshwar as these topics need to be discussed further extensively.

The leaders have claimed today's meeting has raised hope that consensus would be forged on a directly-elected President and an executive Prime Minister elected by the Parliament.

Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha from the UCPN-Maoist, president Sushil Koirala, Vice-President Ram Chandra Paudel and leaders Dr Ram Sharan Mahat and Arjun Narsingh K.C. on behalf the Nepali Congress and President Jhalanath Khanal, senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal and leaders KP oli, among others, from the CPN-UML were present in the meeting.