The two-day talks at Hattiban Resort in Pharping last week dwelt on the issue of government formation, it has been revealed.

The proposed four options are a national unity government led by UCPN (Maoist), a national unity government with rotational leadership, a presidium and a majority government without UCPN (Maoist).

All four options were proposed by Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, according to leaders who attended the talks.

However, the talks did not progress much due to difference in priorities among the parties.

According to UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikary, present at the talks, UCPN (Maoist) did not want to take up other issues of peace process including army integration and management of arms before finalizing the structure of the next government, while NC did not want to discuss on new government before finalizing the issue of army integration and arms management.

UML wanted to finalise the issue of budget presentation in case an environment for new government formation is not created immediately.

Among the four options for new government, NC has accepted the national unity government with rotational leadership only if it gets to lead the government first.

It has also hinted it is open for a Maoist-led national unity government provided the issue of army integration arms management is finalised before that.

UCPN (Maoist) has taken a stance that it needs take the opinion of the cantoned combatants before finalizing the issue of army integration and that can be done only after the formation of a new government.

Top leaders of the three political parties are resuming the talks again from Wednesday. However, whether the talks will provide any outlet to the nation from the present deadlock is yet to be seen. nepalnews.com