KATHMANDU: The fringe parties on Monday suggested the major three parties--  Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist-- to work together to form the new government and deal with the agitating Madhesi parties to resolve the ongoing political crisis.

In an all-party meeting held at the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar, the parties in Parliament other than the ones that boycotted the process of constitution promulgation stressed on the need for unity among the major parties to implement the new Constitution.

In the meeting, Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala had sought the parties' opinion over the formation of consensus government. He reiterated that the media reports which said he did not want to step down from the post was not true.

Though Koirala did not comment on the agreement among the top leaders of three parties to elect CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli as the Prime Minister, UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal told the participants the three leaders had made a "Gentlemen's Agreement" in this regard.

Prime Minister Koirala repeatedly assured the two parties of supporting Oli for the prime ministerial berth, according to Dahal.

"We will make decision in the party (to endorse Oli as the prime ministerial candidate)," Dahal said, expressing his hope that the Nepali Congress too would follow the suit.

On the other hand, CPN-UML Chairman Oli said he did not have to speak much about the agreement as the Maoist chairman already made it clear about the understanding among regarding the change of guard of government.

He, however, expressed surprise over the move of Nepali Congress to discuss the matter of formation of new government in  the party's Central Working Committee.

Oli was of the opinion that the NC president's word would be tantamount to that of the party's and the internal discussion was not called for.

CPN-UML has already fielded Oli as the candidate for the prime ministerial election, while Nepali Congress has called the meeting of its Central Working Committee to discuss the issues of government formation.

It is speculated that the NC would field its own candidate for the prime ministerial elections notwithstanding the apparent agreement to make Oli new prime minister.

Earlier today, the top leaders of three had held a separate meeting.

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