A much awaited meeting between two top leaders of the left alliance has paved the way for unification of the CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre) “within a few days”, leaders said.

Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had reached UML Chair KP Sharma Oli’s residence in Balkot on Sunday evening soon after arriving from Chitwan.

Negotiations that lasted two hours are said to have resolved a number of outstanding issues.

“We’ve decided to finalise the merger process within a few days,” Dahal said after the meeting. However, the two leaders have not revealed the modalities of power-sharing in the new government and the unified party.

Fearing that the merger process may derail if too many leaders are involved

in talks, Oli and Dahal have been entrusted by their parties with agreeing to a merger roadmap.

“We have expressed our commitment to endorsing all their decisions,” said UML Secretary Pradeep Gyawali. The two leaders have decided to hold consultations in their respective parties on Monday before the party unity coordination committee discusses all aspects of merger.

Oli and Dahal are expected to brief their party committees on Monday on the agreements. The two leaders have not shared the outcome of Sunday’s dialogue.

The coordination committee will meet on Tuesday, according to Dahal. The panel could form a few taskforces to sort ideological and organisational issues in particular besides drafting the unified party’s statute. Technical aspects of the merger would be discussed on Monday and Tuesday.

The process to merge the two parties would begin before UML Chair Oli leaves for Bangkok on Wednesday for regular health check-up. The UML Standing Committee is scheduled to meet at 1pm on Monday.

“As decided by the duo, the Maoist Centre will also hold its meeting on Monday,” said Pampha Bhusal, the Maoist Centre spokesperson.

Besides, Oli and Dahal are learnt to have discussed matters related to the upcoming National Assembly election and formation of provincial governments.