Top leaders of the parties discussed the preconditions put forth by Nepali Congress for the withdrawal of its candidacy in the prime ministerial election for creating a basis for a formation of a new government.

NC Parliamentary Party leader and the lone PM candidate Ram Chandra Poudel said after the meeting that there is no point withdrawing the candidacy. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned for consensus but no consensus hsa emerged, he added.

However, during the meeting held at UML Parliamentary Party office at Singha Durbar, Maoist leaders maintained that the conditions put forth by NC - which includes dismantling of the para-military structure of the UCPN (Maoist) party including the Maoist commitment for rehabilitation and integration of Maoist combatants - is "unacceptable".

UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal said, "Political consensus has been delayed due to stubbornness on the part of the Nepali Congress . The Maoists are also responsible for this."

The meeting of the three parties came just before the legislature-parliament prepared for the tenth round of voting for the PM.

The top leaders of the big three parties had also met Tuesday afternoon too. At the meeting NC leaders reiterated that the party would not back out of the prime ministerial race unless there is a package deal on key issues including peace process, constitution-making and power-sharing.
nepalnews.com