New Delhi, March 7:

Leaders of seven political parties, who had reached New Delhi for talks with Maoists, have gone underground.

CPN-UML leaders Jhalnath Khanal and Bamdev Gautam have gone out of contact from the party workers after they held a meeting in Nepal Centre on Sunday evening. Nepali Congress leaders Mahanta Thakur and Krishna Sitaula are staying in the houses of their relatives. Sources said the CPN-UML and NC leaders had contacted Maoist leaders on phone and they have not met face-to-face as yet.

They will stay in New Delhi for more than two weeks and will meet Indian leaders and non-resident Nepalis living in Delhi, sources said.

The leaders had to remain out of contact from the party cadres due to security and other reasons, sources said.