Addressing the party´s politburo meeting held at UML head office in Balkhu, Khanal informed the party leaders that they had not reached such an agreement with the Maoists. Khanal was briefing the party leaders on the recent political development, including the three-point pact reached earlier with the Maoist party. [break]
"Chairman made it clear at the meeting that the reports were wrong," UML Spokesman Pradip Gyawali said. He said that the UML was committed to forming consensus government.
As per the deal, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal showed his readiness to withdraw his candidacy from the prime ministerial race, while the UML agreed to abstain from voting slated for the next round.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal briefed the leaders about the progress being made in the peace process. He hailed the progress made by the Special Committee in relation to integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants as ´significant one´ and urged the party leaders to press the Maoists to remain committed on taking the process to a logical end.
"UML leaders should stand united while dealing with the Maoists. Divergent views from within the party can´t exert pressure on them," Gyawali quoted the prime minister as saying during the politburo meeting.
While endorsing the three-point deal reached with the Maoists, the meeting also urged Nepali Congress prime ministerial candidate Ram Chandra Paudel to pull out of the race and pave the way for a consensus government.
Related story
Early setback for left alliance as Bhattarai decides to quit
_20191222200001.jpg)
