Kathmandu: Nepal's largest communist party on Tuesday intensified government formation talks but caretaker premier Prachanda sought to woo Madhesi parties, whose support is crucial to put together a coalition, in a bid to block the setting up of a new CPN-UML-led administration.
Seeking to break the constitutional deadlock, the CPN-UML, third largest party in the Constituent Assembly on Tuesday held consultations with Nepali Congress, the Madhesi front and other small parties in an effort to work out a Common Minimum Programme, UML sources said.
The CPN-UML, which is being backed by the main opposition party Nepali Congress, has said it is close to finalising an agreement with smaller groups to form a new government.
The Joint Madhesi Democratic Front, the grouping of three ethnic Indian Madheshi parties with a combined strength 83 seats in the 601 member Parliament, called on Prachanda here in a bid to persuade him to stop the Maoists from disrupting the parliament.
The Maoist leader told the Madhesi parties not to hurry up the process for the government formation.
According to Jitendra Dev, central committee member of MPRF, Prachanda told the Madhesi leaders that his party is close to the Madhesis and the Maoists are committed to address the issues raised by the Terai-based parties.