Kathmandu: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala met with his predecessor Krishna Prasad Bhattarai’s representatives today, but the two sides wound up the talks where the peers had left at the end of one-to-one dialogue yesterday.

The talks that started at 9.30 this morning went on for a little over an hour, sources at the Prime Minister’s residence said. Koirala talked first with former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Bhattarai’s political heir apparent, for about 20 minutes at the Prime Minister’s residence this morning, Baluwatar sources said.

After that the Premier talked with Chiranjivi Wagle and Purna Bahadur Khadka for about half an hour and with all three of them in the end as the meeting concluded around 10.45.

The Congress leaders reiterated Bhattarai’s demands that Koirala step down as the Party President appointing Deuba as the Acting President ahead of the impending party convention, which has been scheduled for November this year. Koirala disagreed to concede to the demand citing a clause in the party statute that does not give the President to appoint an Acting President.

And, the decision to contest election for party President should be left to individuals themselves because that is entirely dependent on the personal views of the prospective contenders, Koirala said of the second demand that he make public the decision not to vie for the post Party President.

Deuba and his team members could not be reached for their comments despite several attempts late in the evening. The three leaders are learnt to have left Baluwatar saying that they would brief Bhattarai about the meeting. The Deuba-Bhattarai supporters were locked in meetings later in the day.

Koirala has maintained reservations about third demand to postpone the November convention, but has said he is open to discussing fresh dates. The Prime Minister has agreed to reshuffle the Cabinet and the party’s Central Working Committee as demanded by Bhattarai. Koirala has also said he would appoint an election commission that comprises his and Bhattarai supporters to ensure impartial election.

Differences between the two leaders have grown since Bhattarai criticised Koirala’s dismissal last week of Khum Bahadur Khadka from the Cabinet two days after his return from India.

The Deuba-Bhattarai camp of the ruling party has threatened with a no-trust motion against Koirala if the Prime Minister does not give in to their demands. Koirala, who is under pressure to retain only one of the two elected posts, says the rebels could move him out of the Prime Ministerial office through a vote of no-confidence. The Prime Minister has asked Congress leaders not to call for his resignation, but to wait until the convention if they want to change the party leadership.