Kathmandu, Apr. 29: 

The meeting of the three major parties and the Unified Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) Sunday evening concluded inconclusively after the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML demanded the solution of the disputes regarding the state restructuring, form of governance and forming national consensus government in a package.

At the second round of the four party meeting held at the secretariat of the Army integration Special Committee at New Baneshwor, NC and CPN-UML stressed formation of the national consensus government by executing earlier agreement.

However, after the meeting the leaders claimed that they also discussed about the numbers of federal units and various alternative to the form of governance during the meeting.

Talking with reporters after the meeting, UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said that political parties were close to forging consensus on the two contentious issues—federal units and form of governance.

The disputes on federalism and form of governance would be resolved by Tuesday before the meeting of the Constituent Assembly, Prachanda said.

The CA meeting scheduled for today was postponed until Tuesday after the parties failed to sort out the differences on federalism and form of governance.

"The ongoing discussion is positive and serious to unknot all complications regarding the form of governance and state restructuring, the parties are near to an agreement on these topics," Prachanda said.

The Maoist chairman informed that the issue of forming a national government was also discussed in the meeting.

CPN-UML leader KP Oli claimed that a national consensus government would be formed soon as the parties seriously discussed about forming a national government in the meeting.

When asked about the leadership of the national government, Oli said that leadership would be decided only after the dissolution of the current government.

Stating that his party’s official stance was for seven federal states, Oli said that greater number of states would weaken the state economically.

NC leader Ramchandra Poudel said that the parties were positive about formation of the national consensus government within a few days in which the Maoist party was supposed to take initiatives.

As all issues should be settled through consensus, the national government should also be of consensus, he said.

"National consensus government is a must for the promulgation of the new constitution," he added.

He said that NC was standing for 7 provinces and claimed that all parties were very close to agreeing on 7-province proposal forwarded by NC and UML.

"Regarding the forms of governance, we are on the side of supremacy of the parliament," Poudel said.

The big four are also meeting on Monday morning.