No headway in four-party talks; oppn parties toughen stance

A meeting of the top leaders of four major forces Tuesday evening could not reach any agreement on the formation of the election government.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting held at Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala's Maharajgunj residence, NC vice president Ram Chandra Poudel said the meeting remained inconclusive. The opposition parties, NC and UML, appeared to have toughen their stance, saying that forming a government headed by the sitting Chief Justice will not bode well with the concept of separation of power.

On the other hand, the UCPN (M) leadership reiterated that the best option is to form the election government under the Chief Justice.

The Madhesi Front leaders did not assert their position, but pledged support to any arrangement that is acceptable to most of the political forces.

At a meeting held at the President's office Monday evening, the parties had reached a "tentative understanding" to form election government under Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi, but differed on whether to make him resign beforehand. The NC and the UML said that the CJ must resign before his appointment as the PM while the Maoists insisted he does not have to.

Emerging from the Shital Niwas meeting, the leaders claimed that they would reach a concrete agreement today.

Additionally, the parties will have to settle a number of pressing issues including the constitutional amendment necessary for the new elections, number of seats in the would-be Constituent Assembly and on how or whether to the own up the issues settled by the dissolved CA. Nepalnews.com