With this failure, the possibility of forming a national consensus government has virtually ended. The political parties also stated that they are not going to hold another three-party meeting, but will give bilateral talks a try instead.[break]
“We did not arrange another three-party meeting in view of the futility of such meetings. We will give a try to bilateral meetings and go trilateral only if we see any possibility of consensus,” said Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha.
He argued that the parties during their talks in Gokarna had agreed to form a consensus government led by the Maoists if the latter agreed on certain issues of the peace process.
“But the NC changed its stance the next day and argued that it should lead the government until the peace process is implemented,” said Shrestha.
The NC and UML, however, stated that the talks failed as the Maoists were reluctant to reach a concrete agreement on the integration and rehabilitation of their combatants and implement it sincerely. The NC said it should be allowed to lead the government until the agreement on the peace process is implemented.
“The talks could not succeed as we proposed discussing the main agenda items of the peace process and their implementation whereas the Maoists were only interested in government leadership,” said NC leader Ram Chandra Poudel.
After the meeting, UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said his party would continue its talks with other parties till the last hour. “If we don´t succeed in pursuading other parties for a consensus government, we are ready to go for a majority-based government,” he said.
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