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Eight parties resume discussion on Terai crisis

A meeting of the top leaders of the eight parties resumed at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar late in the afternoon on Wednesday to discuss the demands of agitating Madhesi groups.

Although the meeting was prescheduled at 1 pm, the leaders started formal discussion only at 4:45 pm. CPN (UML) leaders came late due to the ongoing meeting of the party’s central committee, it is learnt.

The eight-party meeting is expected to reach understanding on the issue of electoral system for the forthcoming constituent assembly elections and delineation of election constituencies.

Even as the parties have agreed to go for federal system they are divided over two other demands of Madhesi groups - proportional representation and delineation of election constituencies on the basis of population. The top-level meeting had ended inconclusively on Tuesday evening after the leaders failed to concur on these two issues.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Maoist chairman Prachanda, UML general secretary Madhav Nepal, Nepali Congress (Democratic) general secretary Bimalendra Nidhi, Janamorcha Nepal’s Amik Sherchan, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party chairman Narayan Man Bijukchhe and other senior leaders of the eight parties are participating in the meeting.

Prime Minister Koirala will announce the decisions of the meeting through a press conference, possibly today. nepalnews.com mk/sd Feb 07 07