Bhattarai at a meeting with Constituent Assembly (CA) Chairman Subas Nembang on Sunday said leaders from major political parties can give continuity to consensus efforts until March 29.
It was Bhattrai who in the past had lobbied hard for launching aggressive protests without wasting time in talks. He said so even as Nembang had earlier pressed top leaders of major political forces to settle disputes by March 25.
"Our protests will turn aggressive only after March 29. So we can give continuity to talks till that day," Bhattarai told Nembang at the meeting held at the CA chairman's chamber in Singha Durbar.
In what could be an indication of his softened position, Bhattarai called up Nembang and sought time for a meeting with the latter to discuss possible ways to end the ongoing deadlock.
Earlier this month, Bhattarai was the one pushing the 30-party alliance to announce protest even as there was strong lobby within the alliance pressing to give talks a chance. UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the party's vice-chair Narayankaji Shrestha, Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D) Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar and several other leaders were against launching aggressive protests.
At the meeting, Nembang expressed serious concerns over top leaders' abroad visits even as the political deadlock deepens. He was referring to Dahal's China visit.
"But Bhattarai assured me that talks wouldn't be affected because of Dahal's absence," Nembang told reporters at his chamber after the meeting.
Stating that formal and informal parleys held in the recent days were not result-oriented, Bhattarai urged Nembang to take initiatives for result-oriented talks. He also sought more active role of civil society members in making the interparty negotiations fruitful.
Meanwhile, a group of civil society members sought the role of "some individuals from outside the political parties" in the talks.
"It is our conclusion that the talks can be result-oriented if it is held in the presence of some leaders from outside the political parties and those who played a key role in bringing the political change," said a statement jointly issued by a dozen of civil society members. "Such talks will help end the existing misunderstanding and make the talks more civilized and disciplined."
The civil society members include Charan Prasai, Dr Sundarmani Dixit, Dr Birendra Mishra, Subodhraj Pyakurel, Sharmila Karki, Dr Kedarnarsingh KC, Shovakar Budhathoki, Ganesh Mandal, Suresh Bhatta, Dinesh Tripathi and Baburam Giri.
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