During one hour-long meeting held at the prime minister's official residence in Baluwatar on Tuesday, Prime Minister Koirala and Gachchhadar held discussions on ongoing negotiations, constitution-drafting and calling fresh meeting of the stalled Constituent Assembly meeting, according to Prime Minister Koirala's press coordinator Prakash Adhikari.
Talking to media persons after the meeting, UDMF Coordinator Gachchhadar said his talks with Prime Minister Koirala were positive. He also expressed confidence that Prime Minister Koirala's efforts to forge consensus among parties on constitutional issues would eventually yield results.
The meeting came a day after Prime Minister Koirala appealed all political parties under the Maoist-led agitating opposition alliance not to vitiate an environment of talks by taking to the streets again.
While assuring them that disputed issues of new constitution can be resolved through negotiations, the prime minister had also asked the opposition parties to positively contribute to the negotiation process.
Following the call of Prime Minister Koirala, opposition party alliance on Tuesday decided not to announce any protest programs till March 14. Earlier, the alliance had announced to unveil second phase of protest programs for exerting pressure on the ruling parties to promulgate new statute through consensus-based approach.
As part of his personal initiatives, Prime Minister Koirala has deputed two of his close ministers Minister for Law Narahari Acharya and Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Mahesh Acharya to hold informal talks with the leaders of various political parties.
Among others, the minister duo have already held meeting with Chairman of Constituent Assembly (CA) Subash Nembang, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to facilitate for formal negotiation.
Earlier on Saturday, the ruling and opposition alliance had held a meeting to forge consensus on disputed constitutional issues after a hiatus of several weeks. The meeting had decided to hold another round of formal negotiations only after settling the disputed issues through informal negotiations.
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