Unable to break the political logjam, Nepal’s two main Left parties- Maoists and CPN(UML)- have threatened to break ranks and form a government on their own after bringing a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister G P Koirala.During a series of meetings held between Maoist chairman Prachanda and CPN-UML general secretary Jhalanath Khanal since Sunday, the two parties appeared to have reached an understanding over the post of President.While the Maoists will back a CPN-UML candidate for the President, the post of Prime Minister will go to the former rebels, according to a proposed deal that will sideline Nepali Congress of Koirala.“Maoists have agreed to give the top post of president to CPN-UML,” Khanal said after his meeting with Prachanda on Monday.Madhav Kumar Nepal, who has lost election from two constituencies in the April 10 election, is the CPN-UML’s possible choice for president, party sources said.“We are trying to forge a consensus to move ahead, but if there is no other alternative we have no choice than forging an alliance with the Maoists,” Khanal said.If the Seven Party Alliance cannot give solution to the problem, then we must seek solution from the Constituent Assembly, the CPN (UML) leader said.In the 601-member Constituent Assembly, the Maoists have 220 seats and UML has 103 seats. If the two communist parties forge alliance they can surpass the 301 votes required for a simple majority.
