Leaders of major parties resume discussions to forge agreement

Kathmandu, Nov 26 (UNI) Two of the major parties in the government, the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML today held discussions to ensure the Constituent Assembly elections by finding the causes of the postponement of the polls time and again.

The CPN-UML proposed to uncover the elements that are hindering the CA polls, take action against them in public and declare a new date for the polls in trustworthy environment.

A meeting was today morning in this regard at the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar between the Prime Minister, NC President Girija Prasad Koirala and the UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal.

Mr Nepal urged the Prime Minister to clarify the causes of the failure of the government to hold the CA polls time and again to the people.

He also urged the Prime Minister to announce a new date by mid-April in a trustworthy environment, said the UML sources.

Prime Minister Koirala assured Mr Nepal that the government would review the causes and arrive at a conclusion by holding discussions among the political parties to announce a new date for the polls.

''The focus of the meeting was to fix a new date for the CA elections at the earliest so that the poll could be conducted within this year (as per the Nepali calendar i.e. mid-April, 2008),'' NC spokesman Arjun Narsingh KC told reporters after the meeting.

He added that the leaders also discussed ways to overcome the political stalemate confronting the seven-party unity.

The meeting also included NC Acting President Sushil Koirala, Vice-President Gopal Man Singh, Chakra Bastola and UML leaders Jhal Nath Khanal and Bharat Mohan Adhikary.

Mr Koirala held a meeting with the Maoist Chairman Prachanda and senior leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai this afternoon. This was the first talks between the Prime Minister and the Maoist leadership after a hiatus of more than a month.

The top leaders of the major parties have intensified discussions from today--just three days ahead of the winter session of the interim parliament, which was adjourned for 10 days last week, citing paucity of the internal discussions among the parties.

UNI