In his brief remarks to media persons after his meeting with the president Sunday morning, Dahal said intense negotiations that the major parties have engaged over the past few days will eventually yield positive results. “The country is headed towards consensus,” he said while expressing his wishes that it would be better if they can reach consensus by Monday.[break]
As the leaders of ruling Maoist, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML continue engaging in a series of informal meetings to forge consensus, Maoist Spokesperson Agni Sapkota said possibility of reaching a package deal to ensure win-win situation to both the sides have increased lately. “Looking at the confidence level of our leaders, an indication of possible consensus could be inferred,” he said in a regular press briefing at the party headquarters in Paris Danda.
He argued that efforts were underway to reach consensus as opposition parties - NC and UML- have demonstrated flexibility in their stances in recent days. “There will be consensus with an agreement to hold the poll by mid-May. We are preparing the ways to remove the legal hurdles,” he said adding that it won´t be difficult for the Maoist to accept NC leadership of the new government if there was a ´package deal´ on all issues.
However, opposition parties were skeptical whether Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, who appears adamant not to leave the post anytime soon, will abide by the possible agreement that the top leadership of NC, UML and Maoist may reach. Dahal has proposed that NC and UML should agree on ensuring ´graceful´ exit of the prime minister.
Top leaders of the Maoist, NC and UML held series of negotiation even on Sunday in their efforts to reach a consensus within the latest deadline. But the leaders involved in inter-party negotiation were yet unsure whether they would be able to reach consensus within the deadline as they are yet to have any formal deal.
NC leader Minendra Rijal, who is also one of the key interlocutors from the NC, said he was optimistic that they would reach consensus ´anytime soon´. “We do not have a deal yet. But I am hopeful. It all depends on the prime minister now,” he said. Rijal, however, did not want to divulge details as to what transpired in the intra-party talks.
Earlier, Dahal had floated a proposal to the NC and UML leaders that endorsement of ordinance related to fresh election and fixing new date of CA election would provide Prime Minister Bhattarai a graceful exit. Though the second-rung leaders of NC are positive over Dahal´s latest proposal, the UML leaders as well as NC President Sushil Koirala are skeptic, arguing it could be yet another strategy of the Maoist to prolong their stay in powers.
Leaders privy to the development said Dahal was holding parley with Bhattarai Monday to help find ways to convince opposition parties that the prime minister would step down once legal complication relating to fresh election were cleared and election date is announced through Bhattarai-led cabinet in consensus among parties. “Chances are high to reach a deal if Prime Minister Bhattarai committed to step down once fresh election is ensured through necessary amendments in the statue and related laws,” claimed a leader.
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