In a fence-mending bid, Nepali Congress (NC) president and Girija Prasad Koirala and CPN UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal met Wednesday for the first time after the formation of the four-party government five months ago.

During the two-hour meeting held at the residence of Koirala’s daughter, Sujata, at Mandikhatar, the leaders mainly discussed the issue of the reinstatement of the dissolved House of Representatives, a demand the NC is upholding since the Royal proclamations of October 4, 2002.

According to UML sources, the general secretary urged Koirala to assist the ruling coalition in holding peace negotiations with the Maoists while mentioning that his party was not against the reinstatement demand. Koirala, the source said, suggested Nepal to quit the government and join in the anti-‘regression’ movement.

UML leaders Bam Dev Gautam and Pradeep Nepal were also present at the meeting.