A meeting between the top leaders of major political parties and agitating Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N) has ended inconclusively on Wednesday.
During the meeting held at Singh Durbar this afternoon, RJP-N leaders said that they would not take part in the second phase of local level elections slated for June 28 until the government addressed their demands.
RJP-N leaders have been urging the government to ensure passage of a revised constitution amendment bill, withdraw false cases slapped against the cadres of the agitating forces, and increase the number of local levels in Madhes on the basis population.
Emerging from the meeting, the main opposition CPN- UML Deputy Parliamentary Party leader Subash Chandra Nembang said that the leaders present in the meeting have told the RJP-N leaders that their demands of amending the constitution and increasing the number of local levels in Madhes could not be addressed at the present.
The leaders have urged the RJP-N leaders to take part in the elections by sorting out the technical issues, but the agitating party leaders turned down their request, leader Nembang added.
Meanwhile, the UML leaders said that the second phase of local polls should not be postponed under any pretext.
The next meeting has been scheduled for 10 am on Thursday.
It has been learnt that Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba would hold a discussion with the elections officers before the meeting.
Top leaders of major political parties and agitating Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N) are holding a meeting at Singha Durbar to discuss the second phase of local polls.
It is learnt that leaders are trying to find a common ground to bring the RJP-N onboard the elections.
Election Commission has fixed Friday for filing nomination of the candidates for the polls.
The second phase local polls is due on June 28 while the first phase was held on May 14.
The RJP-N has waged anti-election protests with aim to disrupt the elections saying that the government failed to amend the constitution before elections to address grievances of Madhes as promised.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had recently floated his idea about possibility of delaying polls in Provinces 2 and 5for a few days if the RJP-N assures to join the process. Major opposition CPN-UML is against the idea.
Prime Minsiter Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli, CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, among other RJPN leaders, are present in the meeting.
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