Kathmandu, May 31 President Bidhya Devi Bhandari is likely to write to the Parliament tomorrow telling it to initiate the process of electing a new prime minister on the basis of majority. President Bhandari’s Political Adviser Sushil Pyakurel said the president reached a decision to initiate the process of forming a majoritarian government, as representatives of parties who attended a meeting called by the president today were divided on the need to form a national consensus government. The president had called a meeting of 10 parties represented in the Parliament, including the three major parties - the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and the CPN-Maoist Centre. According to Pyakurel, the president told the meeting that it would be easier to implement the constitution and meet people’s aspirations if all the forces joined hands and formed a national consensus government. The president said she was ready to extend the seven-day deadline to form a national consensus government that ends today if the parties so wished. The president said she favoured formation of a new government soon either through consensus or through majoritarian process so that the second phase of local polls could be held without any hiccups. The president also cautioned parties that in the name of expanding acceptance of the constitution, they should not do anything that could create dissatisfaction among those who had accepted the constitution. Pyakurel said after hearing leaders’ views, the president got the impression that there was no possibility of forming a national consensus government. According to the president’s aide Bhesh Raj Adhikari, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba told the meeting that he was trying his best to form a national consensus government. UML Chair KP Sharma Oli told the meeting that there was need for national consensus government but the ruling parties should show willingness for the same in practice. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, meanwhile, held a meeting of CPN-Maoist Centre lawmakers and told them that a new government would be formed under the NC’s leadership and the current coalition partners would also be the partners in the NC-led coalition government, according to CPN-MC lawmaker Agni Prasad Sapkota. READ ALSO:

• President consults with parties on formation of consensus govt