The top brass of the CPN (UML) have been holding frequent dialogues with CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' to form a new coalition government for the past two weeks.
Some UML leaders proposed that the UML and the Maoist Center band together to form a coalition government. However, they are yet to reach a concrete conclusion as Prachanda remains unconvinced with the proposal forwarded by UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli.
UML vice-chairs Bishnu Poudel and Subas Nembang, General Secretary Shankar Pokharel, Secretary Raghubir Mahaseth have already called on Prachanda at his residence in Khumaltar, Lalitpur, with an effort to convince him for government formation, and the effort has been continued via telephone calls as well.
However, UML Standing Committee member Agni Kharel said that these negotiations did not yield any results. "Talks are taking place, but there has not been a definite breakthrough," he told Nepalkhabar, adding, "It is true that serious talks have been held but to no avail, as of yet."
Soon after the election results of November 20 were announced, a handful of UML leaders, including Kharel, have been active to improve UML-Maoist ties.
Another UML leader, who is close to Oli, said that UML efforts were underway to strike a deal with the Maoist Center through earnest and decisive talks. He added intensive discussions have been held with the Maoists in the last two weeks.
Relationship between UML Chair Oli and Maoist Center Chair Prachanda soured after December 2020 and the UML is trying to mend broken ties.
Not only people inside of the party but outside of the party are also trying to persuade Prachanda.
Prachanda has been analyzing Oli's mood ever since Maoist Center General Secretary Dev Gurung reached the UML chair's Balkot residence to congratulate him.
As no one secured a clear majority in the parliament, the two big parties – the Nepali Congress (NC) and the UML -- are effortful to form a government with the help of other parties.
The NC believes that it can form the government since the Maoist Center, CPN (United Socialist) Party, Rastriya Janamorcha and Loktrantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP) are still in the coalition.
The UML has also been laying groundwork to form another alliance by aligning with other parties, including the Maoist Center. It is even prepared to amalgamate non-leftist parties to secure a strong majority.
UML calculation is that its bid for government formation would achieve significant success if the Maoist Center joins its coalition. Due to these very reasons, UML Chair Oli dispatched his trusted leaders to hold talks with Prachanda.
"The people gave the popular vote to UML and a few more seats to the NC," one of UML office bearers who is in constant dialogue with Prachanda told Nepalkhabar, adding, "If we get along with the Maoists, we can form a left government. Or else the NC, the UML and the Maoist Center should form the government together, however, that is not a good prospect since a strong opposition is needed in the parliament."
The source claimed that second-rung leaders were also trying to arrange a meeting between Oli and Prachanda. Though Oli and Prachanda exchanged congratulatory messages over telephone after the elections, they have not held one-to-one meeting.
"If talks move ahead positively, we will spare no effort to arrange Oli-Prachanda meet before the government is formed," the UML leader added.
Prachanda offered to be Prime Minister
Considering its party and the Maoist Center as natural allies, the UML has been arguing that leftist forces should unite and stand in one place. If this were to happen, several highly-placed sources confirmed that the UML would offer Prachanda to be the Prime Minister for the first half of parliamentary tenure. Meanwhile, the second largest party would hold on to the presidency.
Even in the current ruling alliance, Prachanda's demand is to be the Prime Minister for the first half. Many have analayzed that Prachanda would never join hands with the UML if NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba agrees to Prachanda's demand.
"We have no problem to offer Prachanda the Prime Minister's post if we were to form a government as planned," said another UML leader who frequented Khumaltar, adding, "Other positions can be distributed on the basis of agreement."
The UML is also in talks with NC leaders and Prachanda is said to be aware of it.
"Some of our friends are also in discussions with some NC leaders," a UML office bearer told Nepalkhabar, "We are trying to understand the mood of the NC following the election results."
However, the UML office bearer claimed currently it was not possible to form a government together with the NC.
Prachanda is aware of the discussions between UML-NC leaders and has told his close circle that he is not in favor of pulling out of the incumbent ruling coalition. He is not thinking of alternatives as he promised to form a government from the alliance.
Even after exhaustive meetings with UML leaders, Prachanda is firm on his stance.
Meanwhile, some UML leaders have analyzed that Unified Socialist Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal holds sway over Prachanda.
Another UML leader said, "Deuba trust towards Madhav Nepal is solid, due to it Madhav Nepal must be managing Prachanda."
Oli gets soft on Madhav Nepal
UML leaders said Chair Oli, who was very aggressive with Madhav Nepal following the split of the party and formation of the Unified Socialist in July 2021, has been soft towards him in recent days.
"The election results have denoted the two leaders' standings, and with it, Oli has realized that he should not view Madhav Nepal in the same way as before," said a leader close to Oli.
UML Vice Chair Nembang called on all to join hands for the benefit of the nation, stating that various activities were being carried out to destabilize the country.
"The parties' should provide the country a President and a Prime Minister," Nembang told Nepalkhabar, adding that though parties competed with each other, they ought to provide a solution as well.
