By Anil Giri

Kathmandu, May 18 (IANS): The April 25 earthquake that left Nepal devastated is likely to bring political parties on the ruling and opposition benches together that the country has been seeking for eight years.

A meeting of top leaders of ruling Nepali Congress and CPN-UML on Sunday agreed to install a national unity government in Nepal to cope with the aftermath of the magnitude 7.9 temblor that killed over 8,500 people and injured other 14,000 as of Sunday.

At a meeting of Prime Minister Sushil Koriala, chairman of the CPN-UML K. P. Oli and other senior leaders of the two parties, it was agreed to move ahead for installing the national government and to hold talks with the opposition parties.

"We have agreed to install a national government to cope with the new situation in the country following the devastating quake. We have realised the need to hold talks with opposition, UCPN-Maoist and other political parties in order to install such a government," said former prime minister and senior CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal.

The Maoists have already indicated that they would join the national government providing the opportunity for drafting the new constitution and reconstruction bid.

Though the political parties in Nepal have intensified efforts to install a new government to bring about a political consensus while drafting a new constitution and to rebuild the nation, it is yet to be decided who would lead such a government.

Ahead of the formation of such a government, the various parties are expected to reach an understanding on the modality of the new government and its task.