Nepalese parties agree to form mechanism to defuse crisis

Top leaders from three major Nepalese parties, UCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have met and agreed to form a high level mechanism to be announced on Friday, in a bid to break the political deadlock and finalise the new constitution by May this year.

The decks for a formation of a multi-party high level mechanism were cleared at the meeting attended by Maoist chief Prachanda, NC supremo GP Koirala and UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal.

The political mechanism will focus on drafting and promulgation of country’s new constitution in time, and take the ongoing peace process to its logical conclusion. Top leaders of all the major parties would be represented in the body, according to NC leader Krishna Sitaula.

After the meeting of the three leaders, the NC chief Koirala met Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, who assured the government’s cooperation with the mechanism.

The idea of multi-party mechanism was mooted after Nepal was elected the premier in May, but the political deadlock delayed its formation.

The mechanism would include top leaders including Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist chief Prachanda.