A day after the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal-led Sanghiya Gathabandhan announced to continue with the protests aimed at foiling the second phase of local level elections, a RJP-N leader on Saturday had a discussion with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

During the meeting arranged by CPN (Maoist Centre) leader Matrika Yadav, PM Deuba urged Mahendra Raya Yadav to convince other leaders not to obstruct the second-phase polls even if they fail to participate in it.

The Maoist leader said they dwelt on issues including the polls. PM’s aide Bhanu Deuba said the two Madhesi leaders had met the prime minister in the morning. There are no reports of the exact subject of discussion.

“Mahendraji said other leaders refused to join the polls despite their attempts to convince them,” Matrika said after the meeting in Budhanilkantha.

Among the six top RJP-N leaders, Mahendra Raya and Sharat Singh Bhandari were positive about joining the polls but they were a minority.

“Chairman Dahal had made serious attempts to postpone the polls in Province 2 so as to convince the RJP-N but their reaction has surprised everyone,” said Matrika.