Prachanda confers with PM on govt formation

Maoist chairman Prachanda met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala Thursday evening and discussed the structure of the next government.

At the half-hour long meeting held in Baluwatar, the Maoist Chairman is said to have emphasised that the parties needed to give continuity to coalition culture, and that the Nepali Congress should be part of the new government.

The two also discussed the Madhesi parties' position over the constitution amendment bill introduced by the government in the Constituent Assembly.

Senior Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Home Minister Krishna Situala were also present at the meeting.

Yesterday, following the signing of the seven-party agreement on Madhesi demands, Prachanda said the new government, likely to be led by him, would be in place within a week.

Speaking to journalists earlier today he said efforts were on to form a coalition government. He also said he was hopeful of some Madhesi parties joining the government