KATHMANDU, Nov 19: A meeting of the three major political parties-- UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML-- ended inconclusively, Monday. Speaking with reporters after the meeting, UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said the leaders have agreed to continue talks.
The meeting, which took place at the NC President Sushil Koirala´s residence in Maharajgunj discussed issues related to new elections, budget and formation of a consensus government. [break]
Earlier today, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav had called top leaders of the three parties and United Democratic Madhesi Front at his residence in Shital Niwas and held a meeting on the contentious issues.
Exiting from the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar had informed the media that the president gave the leaders a deadline of November 22 to sort out the issues and that the state head would intervene in case the leaders fail to forge consensus within the time-frame.
PM Baburam Bhattarai, however, later on maintained that the president did not issue any such ultimatum during the meeting. With the conflicting statements coming from the the PM and his deputy, the three-party meeting looks to be mired in further uncertainty in forging much sought-after consensus.
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