KATHMANDU: Four major political forces said they were mulling over whether to adopt the six or eight-Pradesh model but were not able to strike a deal as differences still persisted on how to settle the issue of boundaries of provinces.

Still, they said their talks are heading in a positive direction.

Although, the four forces, earlier, had promised to reach consensus by tomorrow’s CA meeting slated for 3:00pm, it is still uncertain whether they will find a solution by then.

CA Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang has already postponed the CA meeting twice on the parties’ request.

Top leaders of the four forces — Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Unified CPN-Maoist and United Democratic Front — continued their discussions on the disputed issues this morning at Prime Minister Sushil Koirala’s residence in Baluwatar. They have been holding consultations on a regular basis for one week.

Although, they had planned to sit in the evening after internal consultations, the four forces’ meeting did not take place in the evening as NC and UML dwelt separately on how to patch up their differences on the disputed issues till late evening.

The four forces’ meeting has been scheduled for 9:30am tomorrow, according to UML Vice-chairman Bhim Rawal.

“The debate among the four forces is now centred on how to settle the boundaries of federal states although they are almost agreed on either the six or eight-Pradesh model.

Let’s hope, the meeting of top leaders to be held tomorrow morning will resolve the issues,” Rawal told THT after the Nepali Congress-UML meeting.

NC leader Mahesh Acharya said the top leaders would try to agree on the number of Pradeshes and the issue of how to settle boundaries tomorrow morning.

“The morning’s meeting ended with an understanding that they would settle things in the evening. But, the meeting was put off by the parties in government,” said UCPN-M Chairman Dahal’s personal secretary Chudamani Khadka.

Meanwhile, the three top leaders — PM and NC President Sushil Koirala, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and UDMF leader Bijay Kumar Gachhadar — expressed their discontent with the role of UML Chairman K P Oli at the morning’s meeting, according to sources.

“The three leaders said Oli was somehow negative about forging consensus on constitutional issues in recent days. They expressed their scepticism about Oli, saying it seemed as if he was distracted from consensus attempts.

In response, Oli said he was committed to consensus and urged them not to harbour unnecessary suspicion,” said a senior UML leader on condition of anonymity.

Although, the four forces are ready to let the concerned Pradesh Assemblies choose their names, they are still divided over the boundaries of the five Tarai-based districts — Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Kailali and Kanchanpur.

NC and UML have said a federal commission should settle boundaries of all Pradeshes if the issue is to be decided latter. UCPN-M and UDMF have been pleading to let the commission decide only the boundaries of the five districts and not others.