Maoist, UML all set to form a new government

Kathmandu, Mar 3: The seventeen-month old coalition led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ is all set to form the new government with Maoist Center agreeing to ditch Nepali Congress, its partner in the government for the past 15 months.

After a series of meetings for about a month, and the final two rounds on Sunday, Prachanda and Oli formally decided to form the new coalition government led by Prachanda. Rashtriya Swatantra Party and Janata Samajbadi Party are also likely to join the new coalition as their leaders Rabi Lamichhane and Upendra Yadav are also believed to have agreed to be part of the new coalition. The two had a separate meeting with Prime Minister Prachanda at his residence in Baluwatar late night Sunday.

Nepali Congress Chief Sher Bahadur Deuba has turned to be the biggest loser in the new exercise as he was hopeful that Prachanda would voluntarily step down after two years for Deuba.

Deuba who had called the meeting of senior leaders of the party at Baluwatar today had asked his ministers to be ready to quit and watch the emerging developments.