Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli on Wednesday discussed issues related to election preparations, citizenship amendment bill, amendment bill related to the Commission for the Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons and Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act and rising inflation, among others.

Oli on Wednesday had reached Baluwatar for a meeting with Deuba. It was the first meeting between the prime minister and the leader of the main opposition in about six months.

During the meeting, Oli objected to some of the provisions of the bill related to amend the transitional justice act, according to a UML leader who was present in the meeting.

“We questioned the intention of the government on the bill related to transitional justice. Why did the government not consider even once discussing it with the main opposition? We know the transitional justice process is complex and serious but the government did not discuss it with us prior to tabling it in the House,” the leader said. “We also drew the prime minister’s attention to the bill to amend the citizenship act.”

Oli was accompanied by Subash Nembang and Bishnu Poudel, UML vice-chairs.

According to Gyanedra Bahadur Karki, information minister who was present during the meeting, Oli discussed the citizenship amendment bill, transitional justice amendment bill, inflation and upcoming polls with the prime minister.

The Deuba-led administration in July had withdrawn an earlier bill on citizenship act amendment and presented a new one which was passed by both the houses. President Bidya Devi Bhandari, however, had returned the bill to the House seeking a review. But the lower house passed the bill as it was and sent it to the upper house.

During the meeting, Oli said that the government should have taken into consideration the suggestions and recommendations forwarded by the President.

The UML also drew Deuba’s attention to concerns from conflict victims and some rights activists about some of the provisions of the bill to amend the transitional justice act.

The government on Tuesday tabled the bill in the Parliament.

Oli on Wednesday also urged Prime Minister Deuba to take measures to tame the rising inflation, saying that increasing prices have made people’s life difficult, according to Karki.

Deuba and Oli also discussed upcoming general and provincial elections announced for November 20.

According to Karki, the prime minister told the UML chair that the government will leave no stone unturned to conduct the elections in a free and fair manner.

“The prime minister has taken suggestions put forward by the UML chair positively,” said Karki.