Kathmandu, April 20

The major three political parties- UCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML - Friday tried to reach a consensus among the disputed issues of the constitution.

The parties held two separate two-party meetings, one between UCPN-Maoist and NC, and the other between UCPN-Maoist and CPN-UML as parts of their efforts to reach consensus over the contentious issues of the constitution within April 22.

The meeting between the UCPN-Maoist and NC held at Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda’s residence at Lajimpat, however, failed to bring any consensus among the issues as both the parties stuck to their positions although the leaders decided to continue the discussion to resolve the matters.

The discussion was centered on the principle of state restructuring, governance system and election system.

In the meeting, UCPN-Maoist stood for directly elected presidential system whereas NC advocated for ceremonial presidential system in the new constitution. Similarly, the Maoists suggested for 14 provinces based on identity while NC recommended for six to seven provinces system making identity and capacity as bases of federalism.

The meeting also concluded that the combatant’s integration process was moving positively and hoped that the consensus would be reached on the disputed issues of constitution.

After the meeting, NC parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel said that the two parties agreed to promulgate the new constitution within stipulated deadline of May 27.

He said that the Maoists would hold a meeting with the CPN-UML leaders and bring the agendas in the three parties meeting of Saturday.

Leader Poudel said that the two parties started discussion in principle about the issues of state restructuring, governance system and election system.

UCPN-Maoist secretary Posta Bahadur Bogati, who is also Energy Minister, said that two parties agreed to co-work and conclude the pending matters through consensus.

He said that the meeting decided to intensify the bilateral and multilateral discussion among the parties to resolve the disputed matters.

Meanwhile, meeting between the Maoist and CPN-UML leaders also agreed to conclude the matters through consensus.

"We agreed to hold internal discussions on various contentious issues and meet again tomorrow (Saturday) to brainstorm for consensus," UML leader Bhim Rawal informed the reporters after the meeting at a restaurant at Dilli Bazar.

He said that both the parties agreed that they should find a common ground in relation to contentious issues of the new constitution.