Kathmandu, May 8:

Nepali Congress has asked the Maoists to practically demonstrate that they are transforming into a democratic party by adhering to past agreements and by dissolving all parallel state structures to pave the way for a consensus government.

An informal meeting of the central working committee members of the party at the Prime Minister’s residence at Baluwatar took the decision to raise these issues during the seven-party meeting set to begin tomorrow, party vice-president Gopal Man Shrestha told this daily.

“The Maoists must practically demonstrate that they will fully adhere to the 23-point agreement, return all property seized in the past, let displaced people return home in a dignified manner, rein in YCL’s violent activities and dissolve all parallel state structures,” Shrestha said.

He added that his party would decide whether to join the next government or to back it from outside only after the Maoists prove their commitment to universally accepted democratic values. He further said the NC’s central working committee meeting, which is due to resume on Saturday, would formally set conditions for the consensus government.

“Tomorrow’s seven-party meeting is only the first meeting after the election and many round of parleys may be required before the parties reach a consensus,” he added. Today’s meeting chaired by party president Girija Prasad Koirala also decided to discuss the date and procedure to convene the Constituent Assembly, Shrestha added.

According to Shrestha, Koirala told the meeting that he would consult Speaker Subash Chandra Nemwang tomorrow on the date for the first meeting of the Assembly.

As per the Interim Constitution, the first meeting of the CA should convene within 21 days after the publication of the final results of the election, which the Election Commission did today.