Top leaders gather at Baluwatar

Top leaders of four political parties - Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist), CPN (UML) and the Janamorcha Nepal - are engaged in what might be their last ditch effort to arrive at consensus ahead of a parliamentary debate this evening on the Maoists’ ‘special political proposal’.

Prime Minister and NC president Girija Prasad Koirala, Maoist chairman Prachanda, UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and Janamorcha chairman Amik Sherchan started their formal meeting at Koirala's Baluwatar residence at around 9:00 this morning. A few central leaders of these parties are also participating in the meeting.

In Monday's meeting, the leaders had agreed to resume negotiations this morning in order to forge consensus on the proposal filed by the Maoists at the parliament, which seeks announcement of republic and fully proportional voting system for constituent assembly elections.

The UML has been trying to persuade the NC and the Maoists to relinquish their respective positions and find a common ground.

An amendment proposal filed by the UML at the parliament secretariat on Monday seeks House directive to the government to start political process to 'implement' federal democratic republic. nepalnews.com mk Oct 16 07

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