KATHMANDU: The top leaders of three major parties -- Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist-- held a joint meeting at the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar on Monday morning.

In the meeting, they discussed issues including the dialogue with the agitating Madhesi parties, obstruction in supplies from India to Nepal along the border and formation of new government.

It has been learned that though Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala stressed on the unity of parties and need for formation of consensus government, the meeting did not discuss much about the election of Prime Minister and formation of new government.

After the meeting CPN-UML Vice-Chairperson Bidya Bhandari said the parties are of the opinion that the new government would be formed based on agreement.

The parties would move ahead together as they did while delivering the new Constitution, according to Nepali Congress leader and Minister Mahesh Acharya.

Koirala dismissed the media reports that he was reluctant to leave the prime ministerial post and made it clear that was not an obstruction, UCPN-Maoist Vice-Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said. According to him, Koirala stated that the parties, however, need to make decision on the election of Prime Minister and formation of government officially like the CPN-UML did yesterday.

CPN-UML Vice-Chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Bam Dev Gautam had briefed the meeting about security situation in the country.

The leaders agreed to hold talks with the top leadership of India and use diplomatic channel to resolve the obstruction at border. Likewise, they decided to give continuity the ongoing dialogue with the agitating parties.

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