With top leaders failing to break the deadlock over the constitution amendment bill and holding the elections, second rung leaders from the ruling parties and the main opposition are engaged in informal dialogue.

Key leaders active in the negotiations are Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s close aide Barshaman Pun and Deputy PM and Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara from the CPN (Maoist Centre) and Bamdev Gautam, Pradip Gyawali, Bhim Rawal, Rabindra Adhikary, Shankar Pokhrel and Subas Nembang from the CPN-UML.

Administrative Adviser to the PM Narayan Dahal confirmed the effort at finding a deal for ending the obstruction of Parliament by the opposition parties but said the consultation has yet to find any positive outcome. He claimed that the leaders were effortful to find a package deal on holding the elections, the constitution amendment proposal, impeachment motion against the CIAA chief and power-sharing.

Dahal said the leaders had approached Nembang, former speaker and deputy leader of the UML Parliamentary Party, to help end the House obstruction and to allow discussion on the election-related bills and impeachment motion against Lokman Singh Karki.

UML Secretary Gyawali said they were not in a position to reveal anything since the dialogue was in the early phase. He said the leaders were in search of ideas to lead the country towards elections by ending the existing political row. Maoist Centre leader Shrestha echoed Gyawali claiming that they were yet to receive any positive signal from the UML.

Nine opposition parties obstructing the parliamentary business have decided to organise a mass meeting at Khulamanch on January 6 to protest the amendment proposal.

Maoist leader Shrestha said they are in touch with NC leaders Ram Sharan Mahat and Krishna Prasad Sitaula. “We will also hold talks with NC leader Ram Chandra Poudel,” said Shrestha, adding that he had also talked to UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli on the matter.

Sources said there will be an informal meeting between the Maoist and UML leaders on Sunday.

Speaker to consult with 7 parties

KATHMANDU: Speaker Onasari Gharti has called a meeting of leaders from seven major parties on Monday.

She also postponed the meeting of Legislature-Parliament scheduled for Sunday after the ruling and opposition parties remained adamant on their stances over the constitution amendment bill.

Nine opposition parties led by the CPN-UML have been obstructing the House business ever since the government registered the amendment bill in the Parliament Secretariat on November 29. Since the opposition bloc currently has 201 lawmakers, it is impossible for the ruling alliance to muster a two-thirds majority of 594 parliamentarians to endorse the bill. The next meeting of Parliament is on Tuesday.

“Speaker Gharti is worried about the prolonged obstruction of Parliament. Monday’s meeting will hopefully find a way for consensus among the parties,” said Babin Sharma, press adviser to the Speaker.

This is the third time the Speaker is meeting leaders of the major parties since the opposition launched its agitation. This time around, the Madhes-based parties have also been invited. (PR)