Kathmandu, Aug 12 : CPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ today met Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) chairman Upendra Yadav to discuss the government formation in Nepal.

According to Maoist spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara, the meeting concluded to continue attempts for consensus until the election of the Prime Minister scheduled to be held on Friday.

The meeting between the Maoists and the MPRF comes at a time when the Nepali Congress (NC) has announced to stay in opposition if it is not given the Defense Ministry.

Prachanda also met Nepali Congress leader and Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula.

According to sources, Sitaula told Prachanda that caretaker Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has proposed to reconsider the Defense Ministry.

The Maoist, in its capacity as the largest party in the Constituent Assembly, could not form a new government with national consensus as both the Maoists and the Nepali Congress wanted to head the Defense Ministry.

The Nepali Congress has demanded the portfolio for itself while Maoists are in no mood to give that away. As such, the Nepali Congress even approached the UML with a proposal offering it with government leadership by excluding Maoists. But the offer was, apparently, turned down. (ANI)