Ruling parties and FSFN meeting end inconclusively

KATHMANDU, March 1: A meeting between the ruling parties, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) and Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) held at the prime ministers’ official residence in Baluwatar on Thursday has ended without any agreement.

Discussions over the issues of cabinet expansion and constitution amendment were held between Prime Minister K P Oli and FSFN Chair Upendra Yadav. But, the meeting ended inconclusively after the parties could not reach any agreement on the allocation of ministries, according to source.

Prime Minister Oli is making efforts to bring FSFN on board the government in a bid to harbor two-third majority government in commitment of amending constitution.

Sources say that FSFN has asked for three ministries, including two state ministries. But the ruling parties are willing to give only two ministries to the Yadav-led party.

However, the three parties CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center) are only inch closure to hitting an agreement on constitution amendment.

Talking briefly after the meeting, FSFN leader Rajendra Shrestha said the discussion was still going on and that the informal agreement reached today will be endorsed first within the respective parties.

“The three sides will meet again to make a formal agreement after the official endorsement by the respective party’, he said.

Prime Minister and UML Chair KP Sharma Oli, CPN-MC Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Vice-chair Narayan Kaji Shrestha, senior leader Ram Bahadur Thapa, UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel, Secretary Pradip Kumar Gyawali and Forum Chair Upendra Yadav, and leaders Rajendra Shrestha and Ram Shah Yadav were present in the meeting.