Maoists and other parties launch talks on new govt in Nepal

Fri, May 9 06:07 PM

Kathmandu, May 9 (PTI) The victorious Maoists and mainstream political parties in Nepal today opened talks on the vexed issue of government formation as they agreed to convene the Constituent Assembly in the last week of May to set the stage for abolition of monarchy. Amid a raging debate in the mainstream parties about whether to join a coalition led by the former rebels, outgoing Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Maoist leader Prachanda and top leaders from other parties decided to hold further talks on formation of a new government.

A task force of leaders from Maoists and other parties was set up to decide on the shape of the ministry. The meeting was held at the official residence of Koirala, who is also the laeder of the Nepali Congress.

The first round of talks today ended with an agreement that the inaugural meeting of the 601-member Constitution-drafting assembly could be held between May 25 and 29. The responsibility of announcing the exact date was however left to Koirala, Nepali Congress Publicity Department chief Prakash Sharan Mahat told PTI.

"The meeting has decided to ask Prime Minister Koirala to suggest a date for the first meeting of 601-member CA and to move ahead forging cooperation and understanding among the political parties on key issues," Mahat said. The meeting reviewed the election results which saw Maoists getting a stunning victory bagging 220 of the 601 seats in the constituent assembly -- more than twice the number of their nearest rivals and the fancied Nepali Congress.

The first CA meeting is expected to put in place steps to abolish the 240-year-old monarchy. PTI.

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