All-party meet concludes with no tangible outcome

KATHMANDU: The all-party meet called by President Bidya Devi Bhandari Tuesday ended without any tangible outcome as the leaders in the meeting affianced more on petty interests rather than giving a way out to the current stalemate.

The meeting held at President’s Office in Shital Niwas, which was supposed to narrow down the differences among the political parties, failed to yield a positive outcome, leaders said.

During the meeting, political leaders were taken aback when Prime Minister KP Oli reiterated his stance saying that the country should go for a fresh mandate to end the current imbroglio.

PM Oli’s remarks drew flak from some leaders, who insisted on the formation of a new government, a source said, adding that there were some heated discussions, too.

Meanwhile, President Bhandari raised concern over the current political situation and urged all parties to work in tandem on the basis of consensus.

Leaders of the dissident faction of the ruling CPN-UML party, Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhalanath Khanal – both former Prime Ministers — however, abstained from the meeting.

Former PM Dr. Baburam Bhattarai also did not turn up.

Likewise, the leaders were also briefed about President Bhandari’s official visit to Bangladesh. The President is leaving for Bangladesh on a two-day official visit on March 22.

The meeting was attended by leaders of all parliamentary parties, including the ruling CPN-UML Chair and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokharel, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel.

The main opposition Nepali Congress was represented by President Sher Bahadur Deuba, General Secretary Shashank Koirala, senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel and Vice President Bimalendra Nidhi in the meeting.

The Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) was represented by party’s Central Council Chairman Mahantha Thakur and leader Rajendra Mahato.

Similarly, Nepal Workers Peasants Party leader Prem Suwal and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) leader Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani also took part in the all-party meeting.