As the much-touted eight party meeting failed to materialise, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, instead, held separate talks with top leaders of four smaller parties who are the constituents of ruling eight party alliance, on Thursday.

PM Koirala held talks with People’s Front (PF) chairman Amik Sherchan, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) president Narayan Man Bijukchhe, United Leftist Front (ULF) president CP Mainali and Nepal Sadbavana Party (NSP-Anandidevi) general secretary Rajendra Mahato at his official residence in Baluwatar.

Emerging out of his meeting with the PM, Sherchan told reporters that he found Koirala “serious about CA elections.”

“He said that if the CA elections are not held then the nation might head towards another direction,” Sherchan said.

Mainali said that the smaller parties were positive towards determining the fresh date for CA elections sometime in mid-November. “The period after the festival season looks most appropriate,” he said.

On the other hand, Bijukchhe accused that bigger parties were responsible for the delay. “They (big parties) are not as serious as us. Otherwise, why don’t they apply pressure by stepping down from the government?” he asked.

The leaders said that the PM wants to hold eight party meeting within May 13.

On Tuesday, PM had held meetings with Maoist chairman Prachanda, UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and NC-Democratic president Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Although the leaders had said that eight party meeting would be held on Thursday, PM only met with leaders of smaller parties.

According to reports, the leaders said the reason for the deferral of the meeting was the lack of enough homework.