Kathmandu, March 15:

The meeting of representatives of the UCPN-Maoist, CPN-UML and Nepali Congress failed to reach a consensus on the formation of local bodies today.

Emerging from the meeting, General Secretary of CPN-UML Ishwor Pokharel said they would sit next week after consultation within their respective parties. NC spokesperson Arjun Narsingh KC said election was the only option to fill positions lying vacant in the local bodies. KC said, “We are not in favour of sharing power in the local bodies.” KC added, “If election to the local bodies is not possible a new modality should be developed.” UCPN-Maoist and UML are ready to form the local bodies on the basis of votes they got in the CA election. In the meeting, the Maoists proposed an all-party mechanism to fill the vacant positions in local bodies that have been without elected representatives for the last seven years, which has badly affected budget implementation at the local level.