Leaders of the major three political parties- UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML - and Madhesi alliance, United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), have resumed discussions to resolve the thorny issues related to constitution drafting since early Monday morning at Hattiban Resort in the outskirts of Kathmandu.

The leaders have been holding crucial discussions since Sunday afternoon so as to forge consensus on various important issues to be incorporated in the new constitution including form of the governance, restructuring of the state and judicial system, among others.

Since the political actors couldn't forge consensus on the issues discussed upon until late Sunday evening, they stayed overnight at the resort so as to resume the decisive talks early today morning.

The leaders are scrambling for a consensus as they have only two days left to settle the disputes as the per the deadline set by Business Advisory Committee of the parliament. The deadline for settling the disputes, which was extended for the last time, will come to a close on Tuesday.

However, the leaders are expected to forge consensus by Monday afternoon after the decisive talks.

A source having access to the meeting said yesterday that the leaders have been holding intra-party discussions to prepare their bottom-line for 'give and take' on the contentious issues before the negotiations start. nepalnews.com