Kathmandu, June 1:

A member of the government talks team and state minister, Ramesh Lekhak, today said dialogue with the Maoists would be successful this time since the “political objective” has already been set.

“Since we all have set the political target of holding elections to constituent assembly, which is also the key demand of the Maoists, there are minimal chances that talks would fail,” said Lekhak, State Minister for Labour and Transport Management. He was speaking at an interaction at Sambad Club.

Referring to the Maoists’ demand of dissolution of the House, Lekhak stressed “alternative understanding” with the Maoists to make the talks a success.

“There can be an alternative understanding with them (Maoists) to sort out the problems,” he said, without elaborating. He said continuation of the House of Representatives means it can endorse and legalise all agreements between the government and the Maoists.

Referring to the Maoist threat of “going back” if the local bodies are reinstated, UML leader Modnath Prashrit challenged the Maoists to dissolve their local bodies and peoples’ government. “What would you do to your peoples’ governments in the local level?” he asked the Maoists. He added that the Maoists would not “go back” to jungles.