KATHMANDU: The ruling parties on Friday held a joint meeting with the agitating parties affiliated with the United Democratic Madhesi Front, and inquired their opinion on the new constitution amendment bill and the local level elections.

In an apparent bid to bring the agitating parties on board the election process, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had invited the top leaders of Madhesi parties for discussion at Baluwatar this morning.

Prime Minister Dahal asked the UDMF to accept the Constitution Amendment Bill and take part in the May 14 elections, the PM's Secretariat said in a statement.

In response, the UDMF leaders said they are more concerned about the constitution amendment than the local level elections, asking the government to review the constitution amendment bill.

The two sides parted their ways with an understanding to hold another round of meeting at 5 pm today.

Prior to that, the major parties in the Dahal-led coalition government -- Nepali Congress, CPN Maoist Centre and Rastriya Prajatantra Party -- will hold a separate meeting.

Sher Bahadur Deuba, Shashanka Koirala, Prakash Man Singh and Bimalendra Nidhi from Nepali Congress, Barsha Man Pun from CPN Maoist Centre, and Mahantha Thakur, Rajendra Mahato, Rajendra Shrestha, Laxman Lal Karna, Ashok Rai, Mahendra Raya Yadav, Sarat Singh Bhandari and Anil Kumar Jha from the UDMF took part in the meeting.