The Maoist negotiating team lead by Krishna Bahadur Mahara held separate discussions with the leaders of the seven-party alliance (SPA) on Thursday.

The Maoist talks team met with Nepali Congress (Democratic) president and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) chairman Nahayan Man Bijukchhe and leaders of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi) and discussed the modalities and the agendas of upcoming talks between the SPA government and the Maoists.

Mahara, who is the spokesperson of the CPN (Maoist), and another Maoist negotiator Dina Nath Sharma held discussions with the leaders of NC (D), NWPP and NSP (A) in their respective party offices.

NC (D) leader Bimalendra Nidhi, Sadbhawana vice-chairman Bharat Bimal Yadav, Hridayesh Tripathi and Rajendra Mahato also participated in the meetings.

The Maoist team, which arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday, has already held meetings with CPN (UML) leadership and is set to discuss with other SPA leaders and leading civil society activists.

Meanwhile, the government’s talks team headed by Home Minister Krishna Sitaula and the Maoist team are scheduled to hold informal discussion aimed at finalising the peace talks code of conduct, reports said. Formal talks will start between the two sides after agreement on the code of conduct.

The government gave full shape to its negotiation team on Thursday, naming Local Development Minister Pradeep Gyawali and minister of state for Labour and Transport Management Ramesh Lekhak as negotiators.