PM’s Special Envoy meets Nepalese leaders to end political impasse

KATHMANDU - Indian Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to Nepal, Shyam Saran, met political leaders of Nepal in Kathmandu on Thursday.he purpose of his meeting was to help end the stalemate and elect a Prime Minister.

After failing in three rounds of voting, Nepal’s Constituent Assembly will again attempt to elect a new Prime Minister on Friday.

Saran, who arrived on Wednesday, held detailed discussions with Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Sushil Koirala, acting Chief of Nepali Congress and Jhalanath Khanal, Chairman of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist).

Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Vice Chairman of the UCPN (Maoist), said that talks with the visiting envoy were mainly focused on peace and the Constitution.

“He [Saran] said he didn’t come here to impose his government’s views in the formation of government in Nepal,” said Shrestha.

“He (Saran) said that, we have concern about national consensus government, peace process and new Constitution and we also talked about relationship between the two countries,” said Bharat Mohan Adhikari, a leader of the CPN-UML.

Saran said that India has a great interest in political stability and economic prosperity of Nepal.

“We have great interest, as neighbouring country, in the political stability of Nepal, in the economic prosperity of Nepal and as a friendly neighbour we will try and make all the efforts possible to contribute to (that),” said Saran.

The present Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood was also present at these meetings. (ANI)