Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal met CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli at the latter’s residence in Balkot on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Dahal, following the meeting, informed an agreement has been reached to convene a meeting of the high-level political mechanism to discuss the presidential candidate and the functioning of the government.

The Election Commission has slated March 9 for the presidential election while voting for the election of the vice president has been scheduled for March 17.

The two leaders also discussed the situation after Rabi Lamichhane-led Rastriya Swatantra Party quit the government on Wednesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Oli had reached the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar and held discussions with Dahal.

Following RSP’s decision to exit the government, Prime Minister Dahal has taken charge of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and Ministry Of Labour, Employment and Social Security. Dahal also holds the portfolio of the Ministry of Forest and Environment and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Dahal has been working to rope in Janata Samajbadi Party and CPN (Unified Socialist) to the government after the exit of Rastriya Swatantra Party.

The UML has become wary after Dahal’s party–the CPN (Maoist Centre)–indicated seeking national consensus on the president in collaboration with the Nepali Congress. Meanwhile, the UML has been saying that it should get the presidency as per the previous agreement.