Official talks resume

The ruling and opposition parties, which as of late have been embroiled in wrangling over whether to promulgate the constitution on basis of consensus or majority vote, are to sit for an official dialogue tomorrow. Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and Unified CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', during a parley held this morning, agreed to resume official talks. The parties will be sitting for dialogue at the PM's official residence at Baluwatar tomorrow morning. The two leaders are learnt to have dwelt over seeking agreement on the contentious issues of the constitution within March 10. Both of them have agreed to make the talks of January 19 the departure point for the consensus process. The rift between the ruling and opposition forces was created after the Constituent Assembly formed a Proposal Drafting Committee on January 25, leading to the opposition Front to hit the streets against the initiation of majority voting process to draft the constitution. The ruling parties had also presented the questionnaire prepared by the Drafting Committee at the CA. However, with the incentive of civil leaders, the ruling parties had agreed to suspend the CA meeting indefinitely paving way for dialogue with opposition parties. The opposition Front had also concluded the first phase of its agitation by holding a mass gathering on February 28. The parties have now agreed to suspend their respective programmes of majority voting process and agitation and sit for talks.