PM Prachanda Intensifies Efforts to Break Parliamentary Deadlock

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has redoubled his efforts to resolve the ongoing impasse in Parliament and create a conducive environment for presenting the national budget with ease. The prime minister has been holding discussions with leaders from both the ruling coalition partners and opposition parties at his official residence in Baluwatar.

Present at today's talks were CPN-UML Vice President Bishnu Paudel, Law Minister Padam Giri who coordinates the working group on finalizing the mandate for the proposed parliamentary inquiry committee into the cooperative sector scandal, and UML chief whip Mahesh Bartaula.

From the Nepali Congress, Deputy Chair Purna Bahadur Khadka, senior leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula, General Secretary Gagan Thapa, and central member Gyanendra Bahadur Karki participated. CPN (Maoist Center) was represented by Barshaman Pun and Hitraj Pandey. Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane along with Swarnim Wagle and others from the National Independent Party also joined the discussions.

The key sticking point remains the mandate of the proposed parliamentary committee to probe the cooperative sector scam. The Nepali Congress has insisted that Home Minister Lamichhane, who has been implicated in the case, be explicitly named, a stance opposed by coalition partners UML and National Independent Party.

The Congress party has been obstructing regular Parliament proceedings in the absence of an agreement on this issue. Amidst the sloganeering by Congress lawmakers, PM Prachanda took a vote of confidence for the fourth time on May 20 , while his government's policies and programs were endorsed on May 26.

With the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2081/82 due by May 28th, PM Prachanda is making concerted efforts to reach a consensus, according to his press advisor Govind Acharya who said the prime minister will continue discussions throughout the day.

Discussions with ruling and opposition parties failed to resolve the impasse over the mandate of the proposed parliamentary inquiry committee into the cooperative sector scam.

Despite multiple rounds of talks at PM official residence in Baluwatar, no consensus could be reached on whether to explicitly name Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane, who has been implicated in the case, in the committee's mandate.

The Nepali Congress party remains firm on this demand, while coalition partners CPN-UML and the National Independent Party are opposed to it.

After the inconclusive talks, Nepali Congress leaders like Gagan Thapa stated they will consult party chairman Sher Bahadur Deuba to finalize their stance this afternoon.

However, another Congress leader Jeevan Pariyar expressed skepticism over the ruling coalition's approach, stating "The problem of the ruling party as a whole is confusing rather than solving."

With the budget presentation scheduled for May 30th, PM Prachanda has committed to continuing discussions in a bid to break the deadlock before the crucial fiscal plans are due.

The Nepali Congress has been disrupting regular parliamentary proceedings until their demand is met, raising concerns over the timely endorsement of key legislations.

Congress has convened a meeting of current and former office-bearers to form a definitive stance on the cooperative issue.

According to Congress MP Jeevan Pariyar, the meeting is scheduled for 1 PM at Chairman Sher Bahadur Deuba's residence. Pariyar stated that the meeting aims to establish a clear and concrete position on the cooperative issue.

A meeting between the leaders of the ruling party and the main opposition parties is scheduled for 3 PM to finalize the mandate of the parliamentary inquiry committee.

The Nepali Congress party has decided to maintain its stance on the formation of a Parliamentary Inquiry Committee to investigate Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane. Joint General Secretary Jeevan Pariyar informed that this decision was taken during a meeting of top party leaders held Monday in Baluwatar.

Previously, the Congress had taken the position that a parliamentary committee should be established to probe allegations against Lamichhane. The ruling coalition had proposed not including Lamichhane's name specifically, instead referring only to the Gorkha Media Pvt Ltd company.

However, after deliberations in the Baluwatar meeting attended by Deputy Chair Purna Bahadur Khadka, General Secretary Gagan Thapa, Chief Whip Ramesh Akhtar, National Assembly party leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula, leader Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, the Nepali Congress has decided to stick to its original stance of demanding a parliamentary inquiry committee that investigates Lamichhane directly.

This sets up a confrontation with the ruling coalition over the terms of any probe into the home minister. The Nepali Congress appears determined to force the issue of scrutinizing Lamichhane despite the coalition's preference to avoid directly naming him.

Nepali Congress, Sher Bahadur Deuba, has called for crucial meetings of opposition parties and its own parliamentary party