KATHMANDU: The three major parties -- Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN Maoist Centre -- failed to make any headway against their differences over the purported amendment of Constitution on Monday evening.

In the meeting, the main opposition CPN-UML stuck to its stance against the amendment proposal that the ruling parties Nepali Congress and CPN Maoist Centre wanted to bring in.

Prime Minister and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had floated a proposal to go for elections after amending the Constitution,  a statement issued by the PM's Secretariat said. But no concrete decision could be made at the meeting after the UML leaders questioned the essence of the purported amendment, it added.

Emerging from the meeting, DPM Bimalendra Nidhi told the media the CPN-UML refused to support the amendment proposal.

Despite the UML's opposition, according to Nidhi, the government would move ahead  [to amend provisions on provincial demarcation, citizenship, language commission and National Assembly] holding consultation with the Madhesi parties. On the eve of the prime ministerial election in July, the Nepali Congress-Maoist alliance had made a three-point deal agreeing to amend the Constitution.

"CPN-UML leaders were ready for the amendment till few days ago," the statement quoted Maoist leader Barsha Man Pun as saying, "But in today's meeting they changed their position... In case there would not be consensus then the government would move ahead holding consultation with the Madhesi Morcha."

CPN-UML leader Bhim Rawal informed that his party stressed on the implementation of Constitution and the issues concerning elections, instead of the Constitution amendment.

Accompanied by other senior leaders of their parties, Prime Minister and CPN Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli had held a meeting at the PM's official residence in Baluwatar today.

READ ALSO:

• Amendment proposal against country: UML
• UML not in favour of Constitution amendment, reaffirms leader Nepal

*Updated

Big 3 leaders hold meeting to discuss Constitution amendment

KATHMANDU: In a bid to forge consensus on the amendment of Constitution, top leaders of three major political parties—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN Maoist Centre—are holding a meeting at the PM's official residence in Baluwatar on Monday evening.

Prime Minister and CPN Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli among other leaders are present in the meeting.

The meeting started after  5 pm.

Dahal is accompanied by Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Ram Bahadur Thapa and Barsha Man Pun, and Oli by former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, CPN-UML Vice-Chairman Bam Dev Gautam and Parliamentary Party's deputy leader and former Speaker Subas Chandra Nemwang.

Deputy Prime Minister Bimalendra Nidhi of Nepali Congress and Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara of the Maoist party are also present in the meeting.