"What we can do is formulate a timetable to conclude the peace process and constitution-drafting," said Shrestha while speaking at Reporters´ Club, Nepal. [break]
The Maoist vice-chairman said that the Maoists are not for resolving all the issues before settling the question of power sharing.
The NC has been stating that the party´s prime ministerial candidate Ram Chandra Paudel will pull out from the race only if the Maoists agree to constitution drafting and integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants.
"We are not saying that the problem will be resolved once and for all if the NC withdraws its candidacy. But quitting the race by the NC will certainly pave the way for consensus," he said.
Shrestha, who is also the party´s deputy leader in parliament, said his party is ready to make an agreement on the character and basic elements of the new constitution, but he added that such an agreement should not be done outside the Constituent Assembly (CA). "This can be done while discussing the issues in parliament," he said.
The Maoist vice-chairman said that the caretaker government should not table the annual budget. But he said that if the country doesn´t get a new prime minister immediately, top leaders of the major political parties should hold talks to avoid the looming economic crisis.
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