Kathmandu, May 20:

Nepali, Congress, CPN-UML and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum held tripartite talks at Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar on contemporary political issues.

Prior to the meeting, the NC and the UML also held a bilateral meeting here today.

NC leaders Amod Upadhyay, Ram Chandra Poudel, UML leaders Jhalanath Khanal, Bharat Mohan Adhikari and MJF leaders Upendra Yadav, Bijay Kumar Gachhadar and Renu Yadav represented their respective parties in the trilateral dialogue.

According to Adhikari all three parties agreed to celebrate the execution of republican agenda with great fanfare, advocate for a ceremonial president and vice president, remove ‘seven- party’ from the interim constitution and replace the provision requiring two-third majority in the Constituent Assembly to form a government with simple majority. MJF coordinator Upendra Yadav confirmed that they agreed on aforesaid issues.

“We (NC, UML and MJF) are nearing consensus. It seems we can break the stalemate if the Maoists are ready for the compromise,” he said.

UML leader Adhikari said that all the leaders agreed to make the declaration of republic a big event.

“We want to declare the country a republic amidst a function where all the leaders, heads of constitutional bodies including the army and police chiefs will be present. It will ensure everybody’s commitment,” he said adding the political parties should celebrate the event all over the country with great fanfare.

He said all three parties also agreed to reshuffle the Security Council so as to ensure the representation of newly emerged forces of the country.

“We are intensifying inter-party dialogues in view of reaching a consensus by Saturday,” Adhikari said adding: “I hope we will be able to break ice with the Maoists in tomorrow’s dialogue.”

The UML will hold dialogue with the Maoists and Tarai Madhes Democratic Party tomorrow.

Adhikari said he felt that the Maoists are showing more flexibility, provided all the pertinent issues were addressed together.

“But they have one strong stance against the provision of the president. They fear it could create a parallel power centre. We hope we could be able to persuade them for ceremonial head in next rounds of meeting,” said Adhikari.

In tomorrow’s meetings UML would raise the issue of army integration and turning the YCL into a fully civilian organisation, Adhikari said.