Koirala, Prachanda meet to end political impasse

The leaders of four main political parties in Nepal, including Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist Chairman Prachanda, are holding a meeting here in a last ditch effort to break the political stalemate over the Maoist demand for declaring the Himalayan nation a republic ahead of the Constituent Assembly elections.

Kathmandu, Sept 18 : The leaders of four main political parties in Nepal, including Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist Chairman Prachanda, are holding a meeting here in a last ditch effort to break the political stalemate over the Maoist demand for declaring the Himalayan nation a republic ahead of the Constituent Assembly elections.

The Maoist demand for abolition of monarchy ahead of the election has been rejected by the Government. The Maoists have threatened to quit the Government if their demand is not accepted.

Koirala rejected the Maoist demand saying declaration of Nepal as a republic before the Constituent Assembly polls would not get legitimacy and popular mandate.

The meeting commenced at the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar Tuesday morning in an effort to persuade the Maoists against quitting the government and launching agitation.

The Maoists have planned a mass meeting later today to announce their withdrawal from the Government and launch an agitation after the deadline for declaring Nepal as a republic ended on Monday night.

CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and NC-Democratic President Sher Bahadur Deuba are also attending the four-party meeting.

CPN (Unity Centre) General Secretary Prakash, who is mediating between the Maoists and the top leaders of seven other ruling parties, is also participating.

Koirala held one-to-one talks with Prachanda ahead of the four-party meeting.

Nepal Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula met Prachanda several times on Monday to persuade the latter not to go ahead with their threat of quitting and launching an agitation.

ANI