The president urged the chairman of the Maoist party during a meeting with leaders of the newly formed pro-federalist alliance led by Dahal, at Shital Niwas on Thursday evening. [break]The president has been urging such a role upon Dahal in recent months, in a bid to encourage the Maoist chairman to take the initiative for a solution to the political deadlock.
"You are the leader who should and can take on a special responsibility, after the death of Girija Prasad Koirala, to find a solution to the present political deadlock," Prem Bahadur Singh, one of the leaders in the alliance, quoted the president as saying at the meeting.
The leaders of the alliance had met the president to inform him about the formation of the alliance and apprise him of the need for such an alliance.
At the meeting, the president urged the leaders to take initiative to find a solution to the political and constitutional stalemate as early as possible, according to Ganga Shrestha, the prime minister´s personal secretary, who was also present at the meeting.
"As the leader of the largest party, Prachanda [Dahal] should take more responsibility to find a solution to the present deadlock," said Shrestha quoting the president at the meeting.
PM meets Yadav
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai called on the president separately after the meeting with the alliance leaders Thursday evening, to discuss a host of political issues, according to the prime minister.
Emerging from the meeting, the prime minister told journalists that he assured the president the alliance would help prepare a "positive" political environment.
"I wish to dispel all doubts over the [pro-federalist] alliance," the prime minister said.
The president and the prime minister discussed a host of political issues facing the country, during their one-on-one meeting.
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