Kathmandu, October 25:

General secretary of the CPN (Unity Centre-Masal) Prakash and president of the Janamorcha Nepal Amik Sherchan today met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at the latter’s residence this morning and explored possibility of finding a way out of the present political stalemate that emerged after the CPN-Maoist called the special session of the interim parliament on September 28 to discuss the issues of a republic and election procedures.

The Maoists want the country to be declared a republic before the constituent assembly polls and the assembly election to be held on full proportional representation basis.

But the Nepali Congress is averse to both the ideas and is adamant to go by what has already been agreed upon among the seven parties.

A political agreement, which is popularly known as the November 8 agreement, reached between the Maoists and the seven-party alliance last year states that future of the monarchy would be decided by a simple majority of the first meeting of the constituent assembly and the election of the constituent assembly would be held on mixed (first-past-the-post and proportional representation) basis.

At the end of the meeting, Janamorcha Nepal president Amik Sherchan said the PM

was firm on the party’s stance on both the issues while the Maoists want both the issues resolved by the interim parliament.

Janamorcha Nepal president Sherchan said they stressed that the parliament should pass a resolution for which the Nepali Congress is also ready.

“But the problem lies in its interpretation and amendments needed in the interim constitution,” Sherchan said.

Sherchan, however, quoted the PM as telling them that he was fully committed to the peace process and unity of the seven parties.

Leaders of the seven parties have held several rounds of informal talks bilaterally and multilaterally.

But there is no sign of a consensus among the parties on the two key issues though three days are left for the resumption of the special session of the parliament that was adjourned during Dashain with a view to exploring a way out of the political deadlock.