With the resumption of the long-stalled negotiations, the ruling and opposition alliances on Saturday agreed to decide the contentious issues of the new constitution through intensive talks among the top leaders.

Cross-party leaders have described Saturday’s meeting as an icebreaker, saying it has raised hopes for easing the strained relationship between the ruling and opposition fronts. Participating leaders agreed to push the constitution drafting process forward on the basis of consensus.

The parties met formally after a hiatus of one-and-a-half months, pledging “maximum flexibility” for thrashing out the statute disputes. As per an understanding, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli, UCPN (Maoist) chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik Chairman Bijya Kumar Gachhadar will engage in informal negotiations to find a meeting point on the disputed agendas. UML Chairman KP Oli, however, did not attend the meeting citing his health.

Opening the meeting, PM Koirala said that the constitution should be drafted on the basis of consensus and all the parties should be flexible. He said that it is still possible to seek a “win-win formula” on the contentious issues.

Dahal reiterated that the UCPN (Maoist) was ready to take statute drafting ahead by registering a note of dissent on the forms of government if the ruling parties come up with an amicable solution on federalism. He asked the ruling coalition to bring a proposal that could address the opposition demands.

Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts are at the centre of the federal dispute. Various options have come up in cross-party meetings about a solution. Once federalism is sorted, according to leaders, there are high chances of promulgating the new constitution through consensus.

According to leaders attending the meeting, there were not substantial discussions on the intricacies of the new charter. Leaders only presented their positions but are said to have agreed to seek consensus on the basis of the outcome of the talks held in the run up to the missed January 22 constitution promulgation deadline.

On Thursday, the opposition front agreed for “unconditional” talks with the ruling parties. It had been demanding that the ongoing majority process in the Constituent Assembly should be scrapped for dialogue to restart.

“The talks have broken the ice. Top leaders have agreed to settle the disputes soon,” Nepali Congress Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel said after the meeting.

Leaders have agreed to hold informal talks at the top level and sit again for formal dialogue. “We have agreed to intensify talks and reach a conclusion within a couple of days,” Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said.

UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel said parties have agreed to give utmost priority to consensus, and if that is not possible, to promulgate the constitution following the due CA process.

As Dahal has expressed his readiness to accept the parliamentary system registering a note of dissent and the parties are close to a deal on judiciary and the electoral system, federalism remains as the key disputed issue.

UML troika absent from meet

KATHMANDU: Top CPN-UML leaders including Chair-man KP Sharma Oli remained absent from Saturday’s meeting. Vice-chairman Bam Dev Gautam and General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel attended the meet instead.

Oli could not show up due to a “minor health problem”. “He had a rest throughout the day,” Oli’s aide Rajesh Bajracharya said, adding that he would attend meetings once he gets well. Senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal has been stranded in Bangkok on his way back due to the closure of the Tribhuvan International Airport. Another leader Madhav Kumar Nepal was not informed about the meeting, sources said.