Kathmandu, December 10:

CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist and Janamorcha Nepal today held trilateral discussion on finding consensus on key issues of republic, electoral system and restructuring the interim government. The three issues are obstructing a political consensus among the ruling parties.

The meeting was held at the residence of Maoist chairman Prachanda and his Dr Baburam Bhattarai at Naya Bazaar. “We have held several rounds of bilateral and multilateral talks among the parties but a consensus is yet to be reached due to the Nepali Congress’s stand on the issue of republic and electoral system,” Dr Bhattarai told this daily.

No progress could be expected without the NC agreeing on declaring the country a republic before the CA polls and going for an all-out proportional representation system for the CA polls, he said. He conceded that the UML and Janamorcha Nepal were trying their best to find a meeting point between the Maoist and the NC stances on the two key issues. He said solution to the protracted political deadlock largely depended on the NC.

Asked to comment on the UML’s and NC’s reported 12-point draft proposal, Dr Bhattarai said they were aware of the draft but they were yet to discuss it in detail. “The need of the hour is to ensure republic and all-out proportional election system. Other issues can be resolved amicably once those issues are settled,” he said.

Meanwhile, Maoist chairman Prachanda and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala were scheduled to meet in the evening. But they could not do so due to the new political turn of events, especially following the resignation of Minister for Science, Technology and Environment Mahantha Thakur, who, along with three other lawmakers, also quit parliament.