Kathmandu, June 10:

Prime Minister and Nepali Congress (NC) President, Girija Prasad Koirala, has asked a task force formed to hold talks with the NC(D) to talk to the leader of the party, Sher Bahadur Deuba. The PM’s instruction is part of the latest bid to have the two parties merged.

“We yesterday briefed Girijababu on the progress made in the unification process,” senior NC leader and Koirala confidante Amod Upadhayay said today. Coincidentally, the NC task force comprising Upadhayay and Ram Krishna Tamrakar met Koirala on a day when he was not feeling well and, thus, inaccessible. So much so that even Maoist supremo Prachanda failed to secure an appointment yesterday.

The task force briefed Koirala after the end of two rounds of talks with the NC(D) task force which has Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, Dr Minendra Rijal and Prakash Man Singh.While the first round was held soon after the NC formed its task team a fortnight ago, the second meeting was held last week.

“We are trying to evolve a model which can be instrumental in coalescing the two like-minded parties. We are working with open minds.

The stress is on finding a model which can please one and all,” Upadhayay told The Himalayan Times.

“After we briefed him, Girijababu asked us to meet Deuba next. We expect to talk to him once he comes back from his visit to the Far Western Region,” Upadhayay said. He added that the issue of unfication of the two parties is being chased with all seriousness.

“We met as part of the warm-up talks. We have not yet taken up the core issues. We sat down as a matter of courtesy,” said Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat.