Political parties holding “decisive talks” to forge consensus on President

KATHMANDU: Leaders of political parties have intensified discussions to settle on a consensus candidate for the post of the country’s President.

The ruling Maoist Center is holding separate discussions with Nepali Congress, Unified Socialist Party and Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) today and holding a joint meeting of the former five-party ruling alliance on Thursday evening.

The Maoist Center held a discussion with the Nepali Congress party and reached an agreement on reviving the pre-election five-party alliance.

Today’s meetings will focus on agreeing on a consensus candidate for the post of President, sources claimed.

A Nepali Congress leader, 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.