Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur held a meeting with the party leaders close to him on Friday to discuss power sharing. Deuba met the leaders to make a concrete decision after CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal refused to give up his claim for the post of prime minister and to make future strategy. Prime Minister Deuba held a meeting with Vice-President Purna Bahadur Khadka, Prakash Man Singh, Bal Krishna Khand, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Umakanta Chaudhary and Dila Sangraula.

The 15 day-time given by President Bidya Devi Bhandari to form a new government is expiring on Sunday.

The leaders suggested Deuba to not leave the post of prime minister under any circumstances. “We have given a suggestion that a new government should be formed under the leadership of the Nepali Congress as the largest party of the Parliament. He will not budge from his stance,” a leader, who took part in the meeting, said. Earlier, this morning CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had told leader Singh, who had reached Dahal’s residence in Khumaltar to discuss power sharing, that he wanted the post of prime minister at any cost. Dahal also warned that he would leave the coalition if he did get the coveted post.