HLPC to keep doors open for talks with agitating parties

KATHMANDU, Aug 28: Leaders from major political parties represented in the High-Level Political Committee (HLPC) have decided to resume talks with the agitating political groups, including the CPN-Maoist-led 33-party alliance, in a bid to persuade them to participate in the coming elections.



The leaders took this decision at a meeting held at the residence of Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala, who also heads the HLPC at present, on Wednesday.



HLPC member parties vowed to make efforts to bring the Baidya-led CPN-Maoist party on board the election process. However, the parties aren´t ready to defer the election scheduled for November 19.



“We at today´s [Wednesday] meeting decided to keep the doors open for talks with Baidya-led CPN-Maoist and other dissident parties,” CPN-UML leader Raghuji Pant, who was present during the HLPC meeting, told Republica. “Our efforts will be to bring the dissident parties on board the election process but on condition not to defer the polls.”



No dialogue has been held between HLPC and the 33-party alliance since talks between the two sides foundered last week following differences over the issues to be discussed in the proposed roundtable.



Earlier, they had held talks as the two sides had reached an understanding to seek a solution through a roundtable conference participated by all political parties.

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