Kathmandu, December 26

At a time when formal meetings among leaders of parties have borne little fruit, with parties reiterating their stances, second-rung leaders of the three major parties have begun informal consultations to end the long-standing political deadlock.

The move follows a formal meeting of the seven major parties called by Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar that ended inconclusively today, as the leaders defended their stances on the constitution amendment bill registered by the government in the Parliament.

“As formal meetings have borne little fruit, we have begun informal talks at the level of second-rung leaders. The leaders of the major parties who played a key role in negotiations in the past have realised that the stalemate should not be prolonged and a compromise should be reached,” said CPN-Maoist Centre leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

Shrestha said he held talks with Ramchandra Paudel and Krishna Prasad Sitaula of NC, Kamal Thapa of RPP and Pradip Gyanwali of CPN-UML yesterday. Paudel and Shrestha held a separate meeting with Tarai Madhes Democratic Party’s Chairman Mahantha Thakur today. UML’s deputy leader Subas Chandra Nembang, CPN-MC’s Shrestha and NC’s Sitaula held separate consultations today.

“We have initiated informal talks to reach a compromise. I have also urged the PM to stop attending formal programmes outside Kathmandu and focus on negotiations,” Nembang told THT.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is set to meet Sadbhawana Party leader Rajendra Mahato tomorrow morning and leaders of United Democratic Madhesi Front in the afternoon, according to Mahato.

Speaker urged leaders at today’s meeting held in the Parliament building in New Baneshwor to forge consensus either on content of the amendment bill or let the House decide on the bill, said her Press Adviser Babin Sharma.

PM Dahal urged UML leaders at today’s meeting not to obstruct House proceedings even if no agreement was reached on the bill, according to the Speaker’s press advisor Babin Sharma.

NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba said the government was not ready to withdraw the bill even if the UML didn’t end the House obstruction. UML Vice-chairman Bhim Rawal said his party would let election-related bills proceed only if the government withdrew the amendment bill.

Tomorrow’s the Parliament is set to be adjourned till 3:00pm on Wednesday after passing a condolence motion on the demise of former member of Parliament from Nepa: Rastriya Party Buddha Ratna Manandhar, according to Sharma.