KATHMANDU: After days of tiring efforts, Nepali Congress (NC) and Maoist Center have agreed to “revive” the five-party pre-election alliance and elect a consensual candidate as the country’s President.

On Wednesday evening, leaders of the two parties engaged in what a leader said “serious discussion” at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar and reached an “informal agreement” to revive the pre-election alliance.

A Nepali Congress, insisting on anonymity, said that they would most likely reach a formal agreement by Thursday by holding discussions with other coalition partners.

The leader quoted Prime Minister and Chairman of Maoist Center Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda as saying that walking along with CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli was obstinate because of which discussions with him did not progress as expected.

It may be noted that Prachanda and Oli held a two-hour-long one-on-one meeting at Baluwatar on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, the source further quoted PM Dahal as saying that “rather than showing cooperation and support, Oli kept on pressuring and intimidating” the Prime Minister during the meetings.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Prime Minister Dahal said the alliance with the CPN-UML was almost over and that he would rather make an alliance with Nepali Congress.

It may also be noted that Prime Minister Dahal also held talks with Unified Socialist Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal on Wednesday.

On Wednesday evening, Nepali Congress leaders held a discussion with leaders of the Unified Socialist Party and Loktantrik Samajwadi Party.

Political parties, including the Maoist Center, Nepali Congress, Unified Socialist, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party and the Janamorcha Nepal will “engage in discussions on Thursday as well” to reach an understanding.