"Since it was the first round of talks, leaders from the FSP floated the party´s demands formally and we put forth the government´s views," Minister for Information and Communications Madhav Paudel, who is a member of the government talks team, told Republica. [break]
The two sides concluded the dialogue with an understanding to hold the next round of negotiations on a future date convenient for both sides.
According to FSP Vice-chairman Gopal Thakur, his team reiterated the party´s demand for the scrapping of the 11-point political deal reached among the four political forces to pave the way for the formation of the present government under the chief justice.
"The ministers said that they would consult leaders from the major political parties since our demands are of a political nature," Thakur, who was present during the talks, told Republica.
The Ashok Rai-led FSP, which was formed last year, announced a boycott of elections to be held by the present government, saying that formation of the election government under the chief justice wasn´t acceptable for them.
They said that it was unacceptable for them also because the government was formed based on a political agreement reached among the "syndicate" of our political forces -- UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and United Madhesi Democratic Front.
Thakur, Rajendra Shrestha, Radha Timilsina and Man Bahadur Bishwakarma from FSP and Ghimire, Paudel and Minister for Local Development Bidyadhar Mallik from the government team were present during the talks.
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