Nepal’s peace process as well as prospects over holding elections to the constituent assembly in November appeared uncertain as the Maoist leaders appeared sharply divided over continuing in the government. Party chief Prachanda and senior leaders like Baburam Bhattarai and Badal were engaged in hectic consultations as the pressure to quit the government and go for agitation that will obviously stall the November election was on the increase. We will quit the government on September 17”, a Maoist leader told The Indian Express. “The government is in a mood to hold elections, but we are in a mood to quit the government and go for an agitation”, Badal , a powerful leader who is largely being perceived as some one opposed to Prachanda-Bhattarai duo’ is believed to have told his workers. Maoists sources also quoted a senior central level leader, Barshaman Pun, as having instructed his leaders to get prepared for a politics out of power. The Maoists are likely to organise a round-table conference with the like minded radical left groups and some ethnic and minorities groups on September 16 before they say good bye to the government. But this move comes in sharp contrast to Maoist minister’s enthusiastic exercise within the government to give plum positions to their party cadres in major political appointments including diplomatic appointments recently. However, there are many who believe that the Maoists orchestrated threat to quit the government may be a pressure tactic.
