Kathmandu, April 30

A meeting of the two ruling coalition parties, UCPN-Maoist and United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), Monday decided to give more priority to the conclusion of the constitution drafting process than the formation of a national unity government.

In the meeting held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar, the leaders of the two parties decided to give continuity to the current government and play a major role to conclude the constitution writing process.

After the meeting, UCPN-Maoist secretary Posta Bahadur Bogati said that meeting decided to focus on constitution writing process.

He said that the two parties agreed to form the national consensus government only after concluding the constitution writing process.

He said, "The coalition partners are ready to implement the seven-point deal and initiate the process to form the national consensus government after concluding the peace and constitution writing processes."

He said that the UCPN-Maoist and UDMF committed to conclude the constitution writing process within May 27 deadline.

They also decided that any process taken to form a government formation would hamper the constitution writing process.

The government would play a role of facilitator to promulgate the new constitution within stipulated deadline, Bogati said.

Likewise, Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party co-chairman Hridayesh Tripathi said that the meeting agreed to foil

any attempt made under any pretext to disturb the constitution writing process.

He said "All people want a new constitution within the stipulated deadline and all parties should help to sort out the disputed issues of the constitution."

The ruling parties held the meeting when the main opposition NC and CPN-UML exert pressure on them to form a consensus government as per the seven-point deal inked in November last year.

Prime Minister’s personal advisor Bishow Dip Pande said that the two political forces agreed to give national unity shape to the current government.

The meeting also concluded that there was no alternative to continuation the ongoing government to conclude the historical tasks of peace and constitution, he said.

"The meeting decided to promulgate the new constitution within May 27," he said.

UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affair Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Maoist secretary Posta Bahadur Bogati were present in the on behalf of the Maoists while UDMF coordinator Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party chairman Mahanta Thakur, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Gantantra’s Acting chairman Raj Keshor Yadav, Physical Planning and Construction Minister Hridayas Tripathi, Health Minister Rajendra Mahato and Irrigation Minister Mahendra Yadav represented the UDMF.