KATHMANDU: Three Madhes-based parties in the coalition government held a meeting with the Nepali Congress and discussed the Seventh Amendment Bill to the Interim Constitution today.

The amendment Bill aims at reactivating Vice-President Parmananda Jha, who has been reduced to the vice-president-elect since his oath taken in Hindi last year was nullified by the Supreme Court.

Leaders of the NC, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP), Sadbhavana Party Nepal and Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic dwelt on the issues in the meeting held at the NC parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar.

NC general secretary Bimalendra Nidhi said that his party was positive to Madhesi parties' proposal of reactivating the vice-president through the amendment to the Interim Constitution.

The Madhes-based parties have been maintaining that the Seventh Amendment Bill should have retrospective effect. The government has tabled the Bill in the House to ensure that the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister can take oath of office and secrecy in their mother tongue.

Nidhi said the Madhes-based parties' demand of implementing the Bill would be automatically addressed once the Bill got parliamentary endorsement by a two-third majority. The Madhes-based parties, during their talks with the UCPN-Maoist regarding the same, also received positive response. Maoist support is mandatory to pass the Bill.

TMDP leader Hridayesh Tripathi said they had demanded that a sankalpa prastav be passed by the House reiterating its commitment to reactivate the Vice-President's post after the passage of the Bill.

Tripathi said the NC had shown flexibility to their demand. The Madhes-based parties, who have already got Maoist assurances to this effect, are scheduled to hold talks with the ruling CPN-UML on Saturday.

But the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum led by Upendra Yadav is doubtful of reactivating the Vice-President's post even if the Bill was passed by the parliament. The party maintains that Jha should quit the post since his oath in Hindi was already nullified.