Parties likely to show flexibility
Parties likely to show flexibility
Published: 03:33 am Dec 02, 2015
Kathmandu, December 1 Three major parties today engaged in extensive intra-party and bilateral unofficial talks in a bid to make the trilateral talks slated for tomorrow a success. Sources claimed that today’s meeting of the office bearers of the main opposition party, the Nepali Congress, has decided to finalise the issue of reviewing the demarcation through discussion. READ ALSO
Earlier, NC was rigid on its stance to finalise demarcation either through federal commission or parliamentary committee. Today, ruling CPN-UML’s office bearers’ meeting also decided to do their best to ensure that tomorrow’s s talks are fruitful. Unified CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal presented a proposal on resolving the issue of demarcation at the party’s central committee meeting that began here today. Dahal has proposed that Tharu majority areas of Kailali and Kanchanpur should be included in Province No 5 and Palpa, Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Rolpa, Pyuthan and Rukum of Province No 5 should be included in Province No 4. Sources also claimed that agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front leaders also decided to show maximum flexibility on their stance if the government and major parties took positive steps to address their demands. “They might agree on resolving the issue of demarcation through a political mechanism within three months,” the source claimed. Spokesperson for the Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Sarbendra Nath Shukla said the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front would climb down from their stance if the three major parties came up with a positive roadmap regarding demarcation of provincial boundaries. He, however, said it was unfortunate that the three major parties had not yet forged consensus on the demands of UDMF. Unified CPN-Maoist Vice-Chair Narayan Kaji Shrestha said if the Nepali Congress showed readiness to review demarcation of the provincial boundaries it would be easier for his party to pressure CPN-UML to follow suit. The three major parties -- NC, UML and UCPN-M -- will hold discussions tomorrow morning to forge consensus on the demands of agitating parties to prepare for the tripartite talks to be held in the evening.