The mainstream political parties boycotted the tea party hosted by Prime Minister Chand at his official residence in Baluwatar on the occasion of the 13th Constitution Day.

The political leaders also repeated their claims that King Gyanendra had violated the democratic Constitution drafted in 1990 after the restoration of multiparty democracy.

According to reports Prime Minister Chand was trying his best to avoid the press while Deputy Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal told the press that the government was preparing to sent a letter to the Maoists for peace talks.

Mandal was at the tea party organised by the Ganesh Man Singh Academy. Leader of the main opposition party in the dissolved House, Madhav Kumar Nepal said the present government was unconstitutional.

He said his party would not join the government. The UML has been in the news for sometime regarding its next political move. Media reports Sunday said majority of the UML standing committee members were for joining the Chand government provided that the King transferred the executive powers.

Of the 14 Standing Committee members, only Madhav Kumar Nepal, Amrit Kumar Bohara and Yuvraj Gewali have protested the majority’s decision to join the government. The Standing Committee meeting is being held today at the party’s central office in Balkhu. nepalnews.com am Nov 10