Maoist chairman Prachanda has said the eight parties should find a common ground on republic before gearing up for constituent assembly polls.

Maoist chairman Prachanda felicitating Dr Ram Man Shrestha, Chairman of the Joint Democratic Republican Front, at the ?solidarity programme? organised in the capital on Friday, May 11 07. nepalnews.com/ANA

Maoist chairman Prachanda felicitating Dr Ram Man Shrestha, Chairman of the…
Speaking at programme in the capital Friday, Prachanda said the top-level meeting of the eight parties had been delayed due to differences on fundamental agendas, mainly the issue of republic.

“The eight parties must settle some fundamental issues before the top-level meeting. Republic is a fundamental issue,” he said, adding “However, informal deliberations on how to move ahead by abolishing monarchy are underway.”

Prachanda claimed that reactionaries and foreign powers were conspiring to thwart a forward-looking political solution in Nepal.

Meanwhile, Prachanda held a meeting with Home Minister Krishna Sitaula to discuss the preparation for the upcoming eight-party meeting and the activities of the Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL), among others.

At the meeting, Prachanda is learnt to have told Situala that the Maoist leadership was trying to check the unruly activities of the YCL. He informed Situala that he had already issued a tough circular to the YCL ranks directing them not to engage in violent activities.