Meeting of four parties underway at Baluwatar

KATHMANDU: Three political parties — Maoist Center, Unified Socialist Party and Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) – are holding “decisive talks” with Nepali Congress (NC) today to finalize the candidate for the post of the country’s President.

The meeting is underway at the Prime Minister’s official residence, Baluwatar.

JSP leader Rajendra Shrestha said the parties on Thursday decided to hold a discussion with NC leaders on Friday and finalize the name of the presidential candidate.

A meeting of three parties – Maoist Center, JSP and Unified Socialist – held at Singha Durbar on Thursday evening ended inconclusively.

However, some leaders said they agreed to propose the name of Madhav Kumar Nepal as the President.

Since they failed to reach a conclusion on the issue of the President, they decided to hold talks with NC and finalize the issue.

In the meeting, party leaders sought Unified Socialist Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal’s desire to become the President on the basis of national consensus.

“He (Nepal) agreed to become the President provided there was a national consensus,” Shrestha said.

Even JSP Chairman Yadav said he would have no objection if former Prime Minister Nepal was elected the President on the basis of consensus.

Political parties on Thursday remained busy in parleys on the issue of electing the President.