Prime Minister Oli, DPM Thapa not taking part in talks with Madheshi parties

Kathmandu, November 16. There are indications that Sunday’s planned talks between the KP Oli government and the United Democratic Madheshi Front will be quite interesting.

In the crucial talks that will take place at 3 pm at the State Affairs Committee Hall in Singha Durbar, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and coordinator of the erstwhile government talks team, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa, will be absent.

A meeting of the high-level political committee, held in the run-up to the crucial talks, had selected mechanism coordinator Prachanda, government talks team coordinator Kamal Thapa and senior UML leader Jhala Nath Khanal as the ruling coalition’s representatives for the talks.

“From the UML, senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal will take part in the talks. The prime minister will not take part,” PM Oli’s press adviser Pramod Dahal told Online Khabar.

RPP-Nepal leader and government talks team coordinator Kamal Thapa is not taking part in the talks, either. Citing a pre-scheduled programme, Thapa has gone to Hetaunda. Thapa will return to Kathmandu only on Monday, RPP-Nepal joint spokesperson Mohan Shrestha informed.

Nepali Congress Acting President Ram Chandra Poudel will take part in the talks with the UDMF. During talks with Prachanda, NC leaders have said they will take part in the talks.

Citing an understanding, CPN-United President Ganesh Sah said the political committee representing parties supporting the government will discuss UDMF demands at the political level and address the same through a constitutional process.