Kathmandu February 27

The CPN-UML has agreed to amend the constitution — a precondition put forward by the FSF-N to join the government— in a bid to bring the Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal on board. However, the two sides have yet to finalise the provisions to be amended.

The parties have formed task forces to settle the issue. A meeting of the task forces today ended inconclusively.

FSF-N Chair Upendra Yadav said they had yet to reach agreement. “Nothing has been agreed upon yet,” Yadav told The Himalayan Times.

According to UML leader Subas Nembang, who was present in today’s meeting, the task forces were discussing the matter and were expected to reach a conclusion by tomorrow. “The talks have so far been positive,” he said, adding that they were yet to agree on the provisions to be amended.

Yadav had also held talks with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and CPN-Maoist Centre Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal yesterday on the same issue.

FSF-Nepal leader Rajendra Shrestha said forging agreement would take some time.

As a precondition for joining the government, the FSF-N has demanded a package deal including constitution amendment and power sharing.

The left alliance has already agreed to give two ministries and one state minister’s post to the FSF-N.