Leaders step up talks but make no headway

KATHMANDU, Aug 20: Major political parties failed to make any headway on forming a new government even as their leaders remained busy in hectic inter-party talks throughout Friday.

The caretaker prime minister´s party, CPN-UML, which has already announced it is not to field any candidacy this time, held separate talks at Singha Durbar with the UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC) and the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF).[break]

As the UCPN (Maoist) and NC have announced the candidacies of Dr Baburam Bhattarai and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba respectively, both parties tried to woo support from the third largest party, UML.

"UML leaders have demanded we offer a proposal on the peace process and constitution writing and lead the government with the confidence of their party," Maoist Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha, who is also deputy prime minister and home minister, told reporters after the bilateral meeting. "We told them we can hold issue-wise discussions on various thorny issues tomorrow (Saturday)."

Before that the UML team talked to NC leaders. According to NC leaders present at the meeting, the UML is more positive toward the NC candidate. "As Maoist leadership can´t be accepted until the former rebel party dissociates itself from its arms and army, our chances of support are high," said NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi, who was present at the meeting.

"UML leaders were of the view that joining a Congress-led government would be more comfortable for them as the UML and Congress hold similar opinions with regard to the peace process."

UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel said his party sought a time-bound plan of action from prime ministerial hopeful Deuba for concluding the peace process.

But Nidhi said they were surprised that the UML sought NC´s opinion on the peace process although "we have been sharing similar views with the UML" for years with regard to concluding the peace process.

UDMF, UML LEADERS

Earlier, UDMF leaders at a meeting with the UML demanded that the latter make its stance clear on forming the new government. "We will then play a decisive role at the final stage. But it doesn´t mean that we will follow the UML´s decision," Chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic Bijaya Gachchhadar told reporters after the meeting.

The UML team held separate meetings with UDMF and three other parties at the hall of parliament´s State Affairs Committee at Singha Durbar. While top UML leaders including Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal was at the same venue throughout the day, leaders from other parties also visited there.