The first Cabinet meeting held immediately after administrating the oath of office and secrecy on Monday decided to hold meaningful talks with the agitating Madhes-based parties.

Newly appointed Prime Minister KP Oli held discussion with his Cabinet colleagues on ways to address the grievances of the protesting parties and sought their inputs on it, said a minister.

Talking to reporters after assuming office at Singha Durbar, PM Oli said that issues of the Madhesi parties would be resolved through talks.

“Madhes-centric parties have accepted the new constitution and joined the PM election yesterday so that I do not see any challenges to resolve the issue,” he said.

“No decision has been taken but the Cabinet seems serious on how to address the demands of the Madhes-based parties and ease the fuel supply at the earliest,” said Minister Satya Narayan Mandal, a Madhesi leader from Saptari. PM Oli has also inducted one of the prominent faces of Madhes and Tharu community in Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar as deputy prime minister and minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management.

The government is taking up the demands of the Madhesi and Tharu communities seriously and will be taking some concrete steps soon to address them, said a minister.

“The first Cabinet meeting has called on the agitating Madhes-based parties and groups for talks. The government will fulfill the political demands,” said Agni Kharel, Minister for Law and Justice, after the meeting.