After six hours long talks at Baluwatar, the top leaders of the seven parties inked a 22-point deal Sunday night agreeing to declare the country federal democratic republic through the parliament and subject to implementation by the first meeting of elected Constituent Assembly.

Emerging out of the talks, Nepali Congress (NC) leader Mahesh Acharya said that the Maoists will also rejoin the government.

Unlike the fears that the Maoists would put a note of dissent regarding the election system, the 22-point deal is said to have been agreed upon by all. It provides for 60-40 allocation for proportional and direct election – of 601 total seats of CA, 335 has been set aside for PR, 240 for direct election and 26 will be nominated by the cabinet.

The agreement will be adopted by the cabinet meeting, which was continuing in the Baluwatar till late night on Sunday.

After the cabinet approves it, a bill incorporating these agreements will be presented at the parliament to bring about the third amendment in the interim constitution.

The parties have agreed to let the government decide on the date for the CA election.

The meeting also decided to set up a high level steering committee to oversee the government.