Five-party meeting summoned by Nepal PM Deuba inconclusive
Kathmandu: A meeting of five major political parties called by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to resolve the impasse regarding elections for the formation of the National Assembly ended inconclusively on Friday.
Deuba had called the meeting of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Janata PartyNepal (RJP-N) and Sanghiya Samajwadi Forum Nepal (SSFN) at his official residence in Baluwatar in the morning.
The meeting slated to hold discussions on various matters, including the ordinance related to the National Assembly elections, could not reach a solid conclusion since the parties remained firm on their respective contradictory stands, the Kathmandu Post reported. Present in the meeting were CPNUML Chairman K.P. Sharma Oli, CPN MC Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Presidium Coordinator of the RJP-N Mahantha Thakur and FSF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav, among other leaders.
The ordinance regarding the formation of the National Assembly that was sent to the President's office for authentication was on hold following a dispute among the parties.
Oli expressed serious reservations over the National Assembly ordinance, stating that the Single Transferable Vote System was "unconstitutional", hence making way for consensus difficult.
However, NC leaders defended the constitutional character of the ordinance and the party will work on its progression, said party leader Bimalendra Nidhi.