Political mechanism in a week

Himalayan News Service

KATHMANDU: The top leaders of the coalition partners — Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala and CPN-UML Chairman

Jhalanath Khanal — today agreed to make concerted efforts for setting up the high-level political mechanism within a week to address all contentious political issues.

Khanal, after he met Koirala at his residence in Maharajgunj, said the mechanism would comprise top leaders of major parties. He said the mechanism was must to address all national concerns, as there was no alternative to forge consensus.

NC leader Krishna Prashad Sitaula was also present during the meeting. “The mechanism will focus on taking the peace process to a logical end and help draft the constitution on schedule,” Sitaula said. Koirala and Khanal agreed to intensify parleys with the major parties for setting up the mechanism, which was proposed by Koirala a few months ago.

“The mechanism will bring the parties to the same fold and head the peace process in a positive direction,” he noted.

Sitaula said the two leaders did not talk about forming national unity government.

Although, the three major parties have been expressing their commitment to forming such a mechanism publicly, the three-party task force formed a few weeks ago to work out the same has not been able to meet after it met for the third time.