Tripartite talks at 5 pm today

KATHMANDU: The government, the main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) and the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) will hold talks at 5 pm today, according to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

The three major political parties -- the ruling CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist, and the main opposition Nepali Congress -- will hold a separate preparatory meeting this afternoon prior to the talks, according to a tweet posted on Prime Minister Oli's official handle.

आज साँझ ५ बजे सत्तापक्ष, प्रमुख प्रतिपक्ष र संयुक्त लोकतान्त्रिक मधेसी मोर्चासँग वार्ता हुँदैछ । त्यसअघि प्रमुख तीन दलको बैठक बस्ने छ ।

— PM K.P. Sharma Oli (@PM_Nepal) December 4, 2015

Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had informed through Twitter that the tripartite talks scheduled for that day was postponed. The UDMF had transpired that only second-rung leaders would be sent for the talks.

On Thursday, though the three major political parties, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist could not make a common stance on the demands of agitating UDMF they reached to a conclusion that the demands of the UDMF could be resolved through dialogue.

The meeting of the major parties held at Baluwatar yesterday, however, had decided to table the Constitution Amendment Bill in the Parliament and were optimistic about reaching a deal with the alliance at the earliest.

The UDMF has been protesting for more than three months in Tarai-Madhes region demanding amendments in the new Constitution including the issue of provincial boundaries.

Meanwhile, Laxman Lal Karna, Co-Chairman of the Sadbhawana Party, a key constituent of the UDMF, said he was hopeful of positive results from the talks.

"We always go to Baluwatar (the PM's official residence) with a hope," he told THT Online over phone, "But, whether that hope is met will be known later."

He said the UDMF constituents are holding discussions on who would represent the Front in the talks.