Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s renewed effort to resume talks with the agitating parties failed to materialise on Tuesday after the latter refused to show up demanding a “proper invitation”.

Madhesi and Janajati parties, which have been protesting in the Capital, have sought a formal invitation addressed to the Sanghiya Gathabandhan, an alliance formed by the agitating forces, instead of a letter addressed to the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM). 

PM Oli on Monday had invited the Morcha for talks. 

The Morcha had earlier declined two invitations questioning the sincerity and capacity of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa-led political mechanism to address its key concerns, including redrawing of provincial boundaries. The Morcha and the government have not held talks since February 18—the day the Thapa-led mechanism was formed. “We would respond to the calls for talks only when the government sends another letter addressed to the Sanghiya Gathabandhan,” said Rajendra Shrestha, general secretary of Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal, one of the constituents of the SLMM. 

An all-party meet called by PM Oli on Tuesday morning ended without entering into the agenda after Madhesi parties did not participate. PM Oli’s aides said that Morcha representatives did not attend the meeting “due to their own internal differences”. 

Pramod Dahal, press adviser to PM Oli, later in the day issued a statement, claiming that “the time table of the talks was set in consultation with Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur”.

“PM Oli was planning to hold the meeting at 9am. But the meeting was delayed by an hour as per Thakur’s request as he had a prior appointment with a doctor,” said Dahal. “But he rang up half an hour later to say that the Morcha would decide about participating in the talks only after holding an internal meeting,” he added.