Incidents involving Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist 2012

January 1: The Army Integration Special Committee (AISC) decided to start voluntary retirement and rehabilitation of the former People's Liberation Army (PLA) combatants within a week. A meeting of the AISC held under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister (PM) took the decision to this effect. The voluntary retirement and rehabilitation of combatants, who had chosen these options during the regrouping process, will conclude in 12 days, AISC member Ram Saran Mahat said.

January 3: As the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) leaders continue to present their views stressing on the need for keeping party unity intact in the Central Committee (CC) meeting, chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda showed his readiness to revise his political report to address the feeling of the rival faction led by vice chairman Mohan Baidya.

January 5: The PM Baburam Bhattarai, who is also a vice-chairman of UCPN-M, met senior vice-chairman, Mohan Baidya to discuss ways to find common ground to keep party unity intact.

The ongoing CC meeting of the ruling UCPN-M for the day was put off until January 6 due to a bandh (shutdown) called by the disqualified Maoist combatants that has partially affected life in the Kathmandu Valley.

January 10: The UCPN-M chairman, Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda met Prime Minister and party's vice chairman, Baburam Bhattarai to assure that he is not seeking to replace him.

January 11: Hardliners in the UCPN-M rejected a 'consensus proposal' prepared by party Chairman Prachanda, stating that Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai should step down immediately for consensus. Earlier in the morning, Dahal had dispatched a draft of the consensus proposal to Baidya. However, Dahal has assured Bhattarai that the present Government will continue for some time as the party lacks a credible plan B, while also trying to win over the hardliners by appearing to agree with their demands at least in principle.

January 13: Even as the internal dispute in the UCPN-M appears to have subsided for the time being, the Mohan Baidya faction reiterated that it has not given up its stance for resignation of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai.

January 15: The two-month long meeting of the Maoist CC, which was put off numerous times, ended with the party establishment and the hardliner Mohan Baidya faction agreeing to put aside their differences for the time being in order to avert a vertical split in the party.

January 17: The Government has allocated over NPR 1.97 billion as the first instalment for the Maoist combatants who have chosen voluntary retirement.

January 18: The "People's Government" formed by Maoists during the decade-long insurgency had certified some 5,000 land transactions in the Salyan District alone, and UCPN-M led Government is all set to implement it legally, Most of war time transactions were conducted in Bafukhola, Shivarath and Bame Village Development Councils (VDCs) as they were Maoist base-areas during the conflict.

The CPN-UML Chairman, Jhalanath Khanal warned the UCPN-M)of dire consequences if the Government's decision of legalizing the transactions of properties during the conflict period is not revoked.

January 19: The UCPN-M Chairman, Prachanda, conceded at a closed-door party meeting that he made a mistake in compromising with the parliamentary parties on the issues of peace and constitution, and pledged he would no longer enter into any such consensus against the party´s fundamental principles. Dahal said that after the NC and CPN-UML pushed hard on PLA integration and constitution drafting issues and sought compromises one after another.

January 23: Leaders from the non-Maoist parties at the Constitutional Committee (CC) meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) on January 22 have expressed disappointment after UCPN-M Chairman, Prachanda, reportedly disowned the previous agreements reached at the dispute resolution subcommittee.

January 24: In a new turn of events within the UCPN-M, party Chairman, Prachanda has piled pressure on Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai for scrapping the Cabinet's decision to legalize the land transactions made through the parallel Government run by Maoist party during the period of conflict.

The Energy Minister Posta Bahadur Bogati while speaking at a program in Nuwakot said that the national consensus Government would be formed under the leadership of UCPN-M. Minister Bogati said that the possibility of forming the new Government under the leadership of General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa could not be ruled out.

General Secretary of the UCPN-M, Ram Bahadur Thapa has said that the party would not break up just because of ideological debate.

January 26: As pressure from hardliners in the party mounts, UCPN-M chairman Prachanda, refused to take back the Government's decision to legalise conflict-era property transactions without first finding an alternative arrangement. The transactions were made by the parallel government during the Maoist insurgency.

January 27: The Prime Minister-led special committee is all set to initiate the process to bid farewell to those UCPN-M combatants who opted for voluntary retirement during the regrouping process within three days. During the meeting held, Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattarai, directed his secretariat to initiate the process at the earliest to bid farewell to the combatants.

January 29: At a time, when opposition parties are obstructing parliament, demanding that the Government scrap its decision to legalize war-era land transactions, 16 sister organisations of the UCPN-M have decided to hit the streets to press the Government to effectively implement the decision.

January 30: The process of discharging 7,365 UCPN-M combatants who opted for VRS during the recent regrouping process is set to begin from today.

February 3: The distribution of cheques to the PLA fighters opting for voluntary retirement package kicked off at PLA Third Division at Shaktikhor in Chitwan District. As many as 1‚137 out of the total 3350 combatants have chosen the retirement package and the cheques were distributed to 447 of the aforesaid number.

The UCPN-M chairman, Prachanda, said that the claim of NC over the Government leadership was valid. "Our party and the UML have headed the government twice each. The NC's demand for a turn is valid," he added. He revealed that his party was ready to look into the possibility of an alternative to the current leadership of the Government if efforts to turn the coalition cabinet into a unity Government failed.

February 4: The handover of checks to UCPN-M combatants opting for voluntary retirement was disrupted for hours at many places because of disputes over their ranks in the PLA hierarchy. They combatants claimed that they had been promoted twice since the verification by UNMIN in 2007, and declined to receive the checks made out to them as per their ranks recorded back then, saying it amounted to humiliation. In Sindhuli, Shambhu Prasad Devkota, who was battalion vice-commander in 2007 and has now been promoted to brigade vice-commander, claimed that he should get NPR 600,000, and when officials gave him a check for NPR 500,000 he asked his colleagues to boycott the whole process.

February 5: A group of 70 disqualified UCPN-M combatants disrupted the ongoing voluntary retirement process in the Surkhet-based Maoist cantonment by vandalizing a makeshift office used by officials from the secretariat for the Special Committee.

NC leader, Ram Saran Mahat, revealed that UCPN-M commanders have been seizing cheques issued to the retired PLA fighters, demanding a certain percentage to the party. "We told Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai during today's meeting and he said he would find out the truth."

February 6: The Chief of the PLA , Nanda Kishore Pun, down-played the controversy over the seizure of cheques and identity cards by the commanders from outgoing PLA members in some cantonments saying it is an "internal matter" of the party.

YCL and disqualified cadres padlocked the UCPN-M party offices in nine Districts in the far-west region, demanding same assistance package provided to the voluntarily retiring PLA members and those being integrated with the NA.

The Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattarai, has sent a formal letter to the Ministry of Defence instructing it to start the process of integrating former PLA fighters into the NA. The official instruction comes in the wake of mounting pressure from opposition parties to take forward the integration process.

Coming down heavily on the Government and the ruling UCPN-M leadership, NC and CPN-UML issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Government and the UCPN-M party to make tangible progress in the peace process and to end obstruction in constitution writing as per the November 1, 2011 seven-point deal.

February 7: Information and Communications Minister, Jaya Prakash Gupta, warned that the Madhesh region could sever its relationship with the State if the issues of the region are not addressed. He claimed that a revolt is brewing in Madhesh due to the haughty attitude of the major parties towards the region.

Cadres of the Maoist youth wing, YCL, who have been demanding facilities at par with the PLA combatants, disrupt the discharge of the combatants choosing voluntary retirement by obstructing the road which connects the division cantonment in Talbandi.

Amid reports of the YCL closing down the UCPN-M party offices demanding same assistance package provided to the voluntarily retired combatants, the UCPN-M decides to provide assistance to them through its own sources.

February 8: The UCPN-M-led Government has back-tracked from its adamant stance on the heels of agreement reached among the three major parties- UCPN-M, NC and the CPN-UML. However, the Cabinet was willing to search alternatives ways to legalise the war-time property transaction within a week, after holding consultations with the opposition parties.

The UCPN-M had directed commanders in all the seven PLA divisions to collect 40 percent of the retirement pay received by each retiring combatant, a PLA source has confirmed. It is learnt that the UCPN-M leadership had called for a mandatory contribution from all retiring combatants so that the amount could be used in rehabilitation programmes for the disqualified PLA fighters and members of the YCL.

In the six-hour-long meeting at the Gokarna Resort, UCPN-M Chairman, Prachanda, proposed formation of a national consensus Government to facilitate the peace and constitution writing processes.

February 9: The Cabinet decided to withdraw its January 12 pronouncement to legalise the war-time land-deals carried out by the UCPN-M's 'people's Government' during the period of insurgency.

The Government sent a letter to the NA to start preparations for the integration of UCPN-M combatants into the NA. The Defence Ministry dispatched a formal instruction along with the minutes of the Special Committee decision to the Army Headquarters. The formal communication was delayed due to an ambiguity in the letter sent to the Defence Ministry by the PM's Office on February 5. The minutes were prepared on the basis of the seven-point deal signed in November 2011.

The Special panel asks banks to only make payment to former UCPN-M combatants as seizure of pay cheques increases. The Special Committee for Monitoring, Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist fighters decided to direct Government banks to make payments of the account payee cheques given to UCPN-M cadres opting for VRS only if they appear in person with their identity cards.

The hard-line faction of the UCPN-M led by vice-chairman, Mohan Baidya, as demanded resignation of Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattarai, accusing him of violating party policy by revoking cabinet decision to legalise the war-era land transactions. Emerging from a Standing Committee meeting, party secretary, CP Gajurel, said that they proposed to call back Bhattarai from the Prime Ministerial post. Baidya loyalist leader also said that PM's move was against the party policy.

February 10: That voluntary retirement of the UCPN-M cadres has drawn to a close with completion of the process in six cantonments. As of today, the secretariat of the Special Committee concluded voluntary retirement process in Ilam, Sindhuli, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Rolpa and Surkhet, according to Balananda Sharma, convener of the secretariat. He said works in the cantonment in Kailali would conclude on February 11. "Only 55 combatants are yet to get the retirement package as of Friday. We will complete the work on Saturday," said Gopal Singh Bohara, who is leads a secretariat team in Kailali." He said.

That at a time when the UCPN-M's hard-line faction has demanded Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai's resignation over the cabinet decision to put on hold its previous decision on legalising war-era land transactions, Maoist chairman, Prachanda, claimed that the internal dispute was not so serious as to bring the Government down. He further said the party had settled bigger disputes in the past and that the current dispute would also come to an end.

February 11: The discharge process of over 7,000 Maoist cadres opting for voluntary retirement ended today. The 9,705 fighters opting for integration in the NA will now be relocated in the seven main and seven satellite cantonments, a meeting of the committee decided.

The major three parties UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML had decided to amend the constitution-drafting calendar that would give them one more month to iron out the differences on issues related to the new constitution.

The retiring UCPN-M cadres of the first division cantonment located at Chulachuli of Topgachhi VDC-7 in Jhapa District have protested the snatching of their checks by cantonment commanders. They informed press-reporters that they had formed a struggle committee to resist the commanders and had chosen Purna Bahadur Limbu as their coordinator. The retiring combatants said 701 cadres had received half of the declared money and the commanders had looted the checks provided by the State.

February 12: The attack on two CPN-UML cadres of Odanku VDC in District Kalikot by YCL cadres has left them injured. Jore Sunar, 46, and his brother Kalya Sunar, 48, were injured when beaten by five YCL cadres including YCL District member, Gante Luwar alias Akhanda, and Takka Singh with an iron rod.

That with almost 40 percent of the verified 17,170 UCPN-M cadres returning home with the cash package they received from the Government, the Special Committee decided to shut down from today 14 PLA cantonment sites that were set up after the peace process began in 2006.

February 21: The two major opposition parties -- NC and CPN-UML -- have made it clear that they would not accept "group entry" [in units] of UCPN-M combatants in the NA. The two parties also raised strong objection to the Maoist demand for one post of Brigadier General for the combatants.

February 22: Amid calls for his resignation within the party, UCPN-M faction led by Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattarai, is seeking ways to resist the growing pressure. But both the factions led by Maoist Vice-chairman, Mohan Baidya and Chairman Dahal are trying to create a situation in which Bhattarai is squeezed and forced to resign. The Maoist Standing Committee met today to discuss a change in Government. "Dahal has felt that it is the right time to tarnish the popular image of his competitor Bhattarai and to create a situation so that he resigns," said CC member Khagaraj Bhatta.

February 23: As the issue of integration of the UCPN-M's PLA fighters has tied Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai in knots, he has called a meeting of top leaders of major political parties today in a bid to find a way to address major disputes related to integration and drafting of the constitution, Integration of UCPN-M fighters has become a Gordian knot ever since the NA forwarded a proposal to this effect to the Prime Minister. The UCPN-M party has demanded that at least one Brigadier-General's post should be given to Maoist fighters in the to-be-formed directorate under NA, but the opposition parties have objected to the idea. Even the national army has said the demand was against the seven-point deal.

February 24: A meeting of three major political parties has bestowed the responsibility to resolve contentious issues seen in constitution drafting and the peace process to the top leaders of the major parties. The big three meeting held at UCPN-M Chairman, Prachanda's residence in Lazimpat today and discussed the issues of peace process, constitution drafting process and the formation of a national consensus Government.

Finance Minister Barshaman Pun, who is also the standing committee member of the UCPN-M claimed that UCPN-M combatants would get a post of Brigadier General while being integrated into NA. Pun also said the integration proposal of the NA, which says the combatants can only be given up to the post of Major, should not be criticised as the issues is yet to be agreed among the parties.

Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattarai said that integration of the UCPN-M combatants into NA is in the final stages and that it would come to a conclusion in a matter of few days.

The Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Chhatra Man Singh Gurung, directed all division commanders to make preparations for the integration of former UCPN-M combatants in the NA. In his closing remarks at a two-day conference of the Army brass at the Army headquarters, Gurung said, "Though the integration process is a political problem, we should offer a substantive contribution to conclude the peace process as per the interim constitution, various agreements and the seven-point agreement and by keeping the Army's norms, values and standards intact.

February 26: The UCPN-M Chairman, Dahal, has proposed that PLA cantonments will be vacated within 2-3 weeks, provided the parties agree to offer the rank of an 'honorary brigadier general' or a colonel to a PLA combatant opting for integration in NA. Dahal tabled the proposal as per the responsibility entrusted on him by a three-party meeting on February 24.

February 27 : The Government has withdrawn criminal cases involving 349 individuals, including cases of abduction and murder, upon the request of ruling and opposition parties. The cases are currently under consideration at different courts.The sources told that most of the withdrawn cases relate to murder, abduction, arson and robbery and involve UCPN-M cadres and supporters of the ruling Madheshi parties.

February 29: The Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and UCPN-M chairman, Prachanda held discussion on ways to accelerate the stalled constitution-drafting and peace process. During the meeting, Dahal is learnt to have urged PM Bhattarai to come up with a clear work plan with definite time-frame to complete the important task of army integration.

The Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai led Special Committee decided to shut down 13 People's Liberation Army (PLA) cantonments and relocate UCPN-M combatants opting for integration to the remaining 15 cantonments within the next 10 days.

March 4: Members of the PAC of Parliament have demanded details of the fund released by the Government for the UCPN- M combatants who were not found in the cantonments during the regrouping process. In the PAC meeting held today they demanded details of the amount that the government released by creating fake names. The Government has already released the amount for 2,449 combatants who were found to have left the cantonments.

March 5: Officials in the MoD said that the NA proposal on integration of the UCPN-M combatants was submitted directly to the Government bypassing the MoD, The ministry's comments came nearly a month after the integration proposal was submitted to the Government by CoAS, Gen Chhatra Man Singh Gurung.

Normal life in eastern part of Nepal has been affected due to a bandh (general shutdown) enforced by disqualified combatants of the UCPN-M for an indefinite period. The disqualified ex-fighters have enforced shutdown since March 4 demanding the previous agreements made with Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction be implemented.

March 8: The top leaders of the UCPN-M and the UDMF agreed to amend the Interim Constitution to ensure citizenship certificates to the children of those who have received citizenships on the basis of their birth. The two coalition partners' decision on this effect comes in the wake of a Supreme Court stay order on Government's move to issue citizenship certificates to the persons in question.

March 9: UCPN-M lawmaker, Balkrishna Dhungel, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court of Nepal, said that he will not go to jail under any circumstance. Speaking at a programme organised to inaugurate the golden anniversary of Ghorakhori Higher Secondary School in Okhaldhunga, Dhungel said, "They are forcefully trying to prove me the murderer by sending to jail but I will not go to the jail under any circumstances. He was present in the programme with party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Maoist chairman, Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Dhungel reached Okhaldhunga on March 9 to attend the programme in a helicopter.

March 10: Senior leader of the CPN-UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal has accused the UCPN-M of using its fighters, arms and YCL cadres to capture booths during the election to the Constituent Assembly.

March 11: The three-party meeting of the UCPN-M, CPN-UML and NC discussed in detail the formation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and a Commission to probe conflict-era disappearance cases.CPN-UML chairman, Jhala Nath Khanal, said the parties are near consensus on the terms of the bills related to the Reconciliation and Disappearance Commission. "The next meeting will finalise the terms of the bills related to the formation of the two commissions," Khanal said.

March 12: The UCPN-M has demanded that for the constitutional-drafting process to kick-start, NC should be flexible on "moving one step forward" from its current stand on "traditional" parliamentary system. The Maoist leaders urged the NC to be flexible on contentious issues of constitution, including forms of governance so that a meeting point could be found somewhere between a parliamentary system proposed by the NC and the directly elected presidential system proposed by the Maoists.

March 13: The Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has agreed to convene a meeting of the AISC on March 13 to take the stalled integration process forward. The UCPN-M leaders have been demanding that their combatants be given positions at the decision-making level in the new Army directorate. Instead of the Army's proposal for a general directorate led by a lieutenant-general, National Congress (NC) leaders are mulling a directorate to be led by a brigadier-general for integrating the combatants.

March 14: The hard-line faction of the UCPN-M has initiated a process to form a new paramilitary force comprising of retired and disqualified combatants loyal to it. The faction, led by Vice-chairman , Mohan Baidya, has been opposing the ongoing process of the combatants' integration and rehabilitation. The Baidya camp organised a meeting of the combatants loyal to it in Dang today.

March 15: Radio Paschimanchal, an FM radio-station of the UCPN-M in Palpa District, was blown up by an unidentified group. The blast took place at the third floor of the building where the FM office was stationed, leaving the office completely damaged. However, no human casualty was reported. UCPN-M cadres reside in the other two floor of the building. No one has claimed responsibility for the explosion. A detonator wire and bullets have been recovered from the incident site.

The UCPN-M standing committee member Dev Gurung has demanded resignation of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai to end political deadlock facing the country. Senior Maoist leader Dev Gurung sought the resignation of senior leader of his own party saying that his resignation was necessary to implement the agreements signed in the past and to make other political parties implement those agreements.

March 16: The agitating YCL leaders said UCPN-M leaders have treated them like beggars and insulted them during a meeting called to finalize package for youth-wing members who were former combatants. "The meeting ended up being a fiasco. The party chairman, Pushpa Kamal Dahal walked out of the meeting within 5 minutes saying he had a headache, and PLA chief, Nanda Kishor Pun made remarks at the meeting insulting us," said Indra Angbuhang, vice-coordinator of YCL Limbuwan State Committee.

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, who heads the AISC has urged opposition parties-- NC and CPN-UML--to be flexible in providing a senior post for the PLA combatants in the proposed Nepal Army directorate. During a meeting of the committee today, Bhattarai said that the integration process will move ahead once the opposition parties agree on a senior post for the PLA fighters.

March 17: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai's political advisor Devendra Paudel today ruled out possibility of the PM resigning from the post. His statement came as a reaction against the public statement made by Maoist hardliner faction that it will compel the PM to step down within a week. Speaking at an interaction in Kathmandu, Paudel said that resignation was not the subject matter to be sought from the street.

A group of about 100 UCPN-M cadres led by Man Bahadur Thapa, the UCPN-M Pyuthan member and VDC secretary Gobardhan Thapa, 50, arrived on March 17 from Rajbara VDC and looted 140 poles brought for electrification of remote Aglung VDC of Gulmi. Over 20 villagers including Radhika Malla, 70, Manmaya Bishta, 45, Mina Chand, 40, and Bijay Chand, 52, of Aglung VDC-6 hurt in their attempt to stop the UCPN-M cadres from taking away the poles. The YCL cadres armed with khukuri, spears and batons had surrounded the homes of village elders before seizing the poles. They even assaulted the Policemen arriving from Pujanibase station.

March 18: Senior Vice-chairman of the UCPN-M, Mohan Baidya, said that he was not struggling to become the prime minister in the present context. Speaking at a news conference organised by the Revolutionary Journalists Association, in Janakpurdham, Baidya warned that, "New constitution is the dream of martyrs and common people. People will take to the streets if conspiracies are hatched in constitution making process and they are betrayed." Responding to a query, the Maoist vice-chairman said he was not in favor of the president's rule this time, adding that imagining it under the present circumstances was to give birth to an authoritarian ruler.

March 19: The UCPN-M chairman Prachanda told the party´s CC members loyal to him that the party is heading toward imminent split or dissolution if current differences within UCPN-M are not resolved immediately.

March 20: Three persons including PLA platoon commander have been arrested in Sunsari District for their alleged involvement in dealing of arms from an Indian national. PLA First Division platoon commander, Arun Subba, 30, a resident of Panchthar, PLA fighter Narayan Pakhrim, 40 of Morang Tandi VDC-5 and Bijay Thakur, a resident of Arariya District of India were arrested by Chimadi area Police Office from Ramgunj Belgachhiya VDC-5.The trio were arrested along with a pistol, its two bullets and two magazines.

March 22: The prime minister-led AISC agreed to introduce an action plan based on the seven-point agreement within five days to start the PLA integration process.

The Baidya faction is reportedly holding talks with fringe parties and groups to form a "united front" to struggle for a "people's constitution and national independence". According to leaders, talks are on with 11 political parties to take to the streets. The Baidya faction held talks with Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), CPN-Maoist led by Matrika Yadav, Rastriya Janmukti Party (RJP) and Samyukta Rastriya Janasangharsa Samiti (SRJS) on the formation of a united front.

UCPN-M Chairman Prachanda said that the Vice Chairman, Mohan Baidya's faction's "true intention" was to sabotage the ongoing peace and constituting drafting processes. "The main cause of the intra-party rift is that we want to conclude the peace process, but they (Baidya faction) want to sabotage the whole process," he added.

March 23: Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattara held discussions with a team of high ranking NA officials led by CoAS, Chhatra Man Gurung, on issues relating to the integration of PLA combatants.

March 24: The AISC Secretariat submitted personal details of the UCPN-M combatants who have chosen integration to the NA. Meanwhile the AISC has decided to allow combatants who have already opted for integration during the regrouping process to choose for a second time between integration and voluntary retirement.

March 26: UCPN-M Secretary C P Gajurel, said that the current Maoist-led Government is just like "a patient kept in an ICU (Intensive Care Unit of hospital)." Gajurel also accused the Government of signing various 'anti-national' agreements like the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) and agreement on the Upper Karnali, the Pancheshwar and the Kosi High Dam projects which are against the interest of the people and the nation.

March 27: Amidst serious threat of a vertical split in the UCPN-M party, the meeting of the UCPN- M CC slated for today in Kathmandu has been put off for the second time in a conciliatory move toward the faction led by Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya. "We are currently working to accommodate them (hardliners). We need more time to persuade them," said Maoist Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha.

The hard-line faction of the UCPN-M led by vice chairman Mohan Baidya held a separate cadre training programme in the capital Kathmandu sending out a clear message that it is not coming to terms with the party establishment any time soon. According to sources, while Baidya is not willing to relax his demand for immediate resignation of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and a commitment from chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda to implement the previous decisions of the CC, he assured the intermediaries that his faction would not go to the extent of dividing the party vertically.

The establishment side of the UCPN-M has accused the Baidya-led faction of the party of selling the party-seized land to pocket commission in Dang. Meanwhile, the Baidya faction has denied the charge. "We are not selling land for commission. We've only asked party members to facilitate its sale if it meant that the farmers were also getting some benefits from it," said Subas Pun, a Baidya sympathizer.

March 28: The CC meeting of the UCPN-M is underway at party headquarters in Kathmandu today. The establishment faction of Maoist led by Prachanda and PM Bhattarai is holding party's CC meeting to chalk out a future policy and programme focusing on peace and constitution.99 members out of the total 149 CC members of UCPN-M participated in an informal meeting called by the party establishment to counter the radical faction, which has been forming parallel committees at various levels and threatening to split the party.

March 29: UCPN-M launched forceful donation campaign in the name of organising cultural programmes to ensure peace and timely constitution in various places in the Okhaldunga District. The party has been collecting donation with the slogan 'Samana Sanskritik Pariwar' for peace and people's constitution saying that party has launched a wider cultural campaign since March 23. According to locals, UCPN-M cadres are collecting donations from teachers, schools and businessmen in Manebhanjyang, Nisankhe, Rampur and Okhaldhunga bazaar saying that the campaign will continue till today.

March 30: The three major parties -- UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML-- have decided to form a task-force to come up with a proposal regarding formation of the TRC and the Commission of Inquiry into Enforced Disappearance by tomorrow.

March 31: The meeting of the top leaders of the three major parties formed the task-force comprising Khim Lal Devkota of UCPN-M, Ramesh Lekhak of NC and Agni Kharel of CPN-UML. The taskforce has been charged with the responsibility to come up with its recommendation by today.

April 1: The UCPN-M Chairman, Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, urged the YCL leaders to compromise on the party´s revolutionary ideals for the sake of peace and constitution. "Time has come to make sacrifice. We will have to sacrifice our stance for peace and constitution," YCL leader, Ram Parasad Sapakota, quoted Dahal as saying.

April 2: The AISC has decided to get the cantonments vacated by sending some PLA combatants into voluntary retirement and the remaining ones under NA control for integration along with handover of their weapons to the Government by April 12.

April 3: UCPN-M hard-line faction led by vice chairman Mohan Baidya on April 3 accused party chairman, Pushpa Kamal Dahal of showing monopolistic behaviour by imposing personal decisions and creating unnecessary hype over intra-party rift, reports Nepal News. Issuing a joint press release, Mohan Baidya and general secretary general Ram Bahadur Thapa said that the act of the party chairman was the result of intolerant and monopolistic thoughts. "No attention is being paid towards possible conspiracy from reactionary forces while dealing with peace, constitution and army integration issues. Comrades of our own party have viciously attempted to tag us as adversaries of peace and constitution," said the statement.

April 4: The AISC endorsed a time-bound action plan to vacate the cantonments of PLA combatants and hand over the stored weapons to the N A by April 12. The technical teams assigned by the AISC will depart to cantonment sites from April 6 and start the process of discharging the combatants who wish to go for retirement from April 9.

April 6: Seven teams of surveyors from the AISC fanned out to PLA cantonments to categories remaining UCPN-M combatants and send them home or the N.A for integration. "Secretariat's teams of surveyors today left for all seven main PLA cantonments. Some have already reached the camps while others are on their way," said Deepak Prakash Bhatta, a member of the Secretariat who is leading the survey team to the PLA's sixth division based in Surkhet. As per the Special Committee's direction, all teams commence the re-categorisation work from April 8. The teams are mandated to reduce the figure of the ex-fighters opting for integration down to 6,500 and send others home with perks and benefits on a par with what fellow combatants who opted for voluntary retirement received in January.

April 7: At least two UCPN-M cadres were injured in a clash between the rival party factions led by Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya over local financial sources in Dhangadi. The clash ensued when the cadres of the establishment faction assaulted the Baidya faction cadres with iron rods when the latter were collecting taxes from Indian trucks at Milanchowk, Dhangadi-3.

April 8: The Dhangadhi-based district office UCPN-M was vandalised and all documents inside it set ablaze by the party cadres loyal to the Baidhya faction today. They also took away two computers, a printer, a fax machine and other goods from the office. A group of around 25 people barged into the office at Buddha Chowk of Dhangadi at 6:00 this morning and set all documents inside the office on fire after piling them up in the street.

A Standing Committee (SC) meeting of the UCPN-M held in the presence of PLA commanders today called for an agreement on the remaining issues of army integration to accelerate the peace process,. The meeting, where leaders from the hard-line camp were not invited, decided to adopt "maximum flexibility" to conclude the integration process. Maoist leaders also decided to hold political parleys to forge consensus on the disputed issues of integration by April 12. A three-party meeting is expected to take place on April 10 to discuss the same issues. Finance Minister and Maoist SC member Barsaman Pun said parties have already decided on rank, but stand divided on when to be conferred the top post on one of the senior PLA commanders.

In addition, the UCPN-M leadership, which failed to commence the second scheduled regrouping process by today, has told the NC leaders that they would select 5,000 to 6,000 combatants on their own and hand them over to the NA by April 12. The Maoist leadership, however, was emphatic over one condition that the selected combatants should not be screened in such a way that a significant number of them get disqualified.

April 9: Voluntary retirement of UCPN-M combatants, which was due to start across the country from April 9, failed to materialize except in one camp in Rolpa mainly due to internal differences within the UCPN-M as well as dispute over the number of combatants to be integrated into the NA. The .AISC meeting had decided to vacate cantonments by April 12 by sending home those opting for voluntary retirement and handing over those who are opting for integration to Nepal Army.

April 10 : In what is being considered a major development in Nepal's peace process, NA has taken control of the UCPN-M PLA cantonments, combatants and the weapons stored in containers inside the camps. This is in line with a decision taken by the AISC today. NA will now be responsible for the Security of the 15 remaining Maoist cantonments, including its infrastructure. Around 9,700 combatants who have opted for integration remain in these cantonments, and there are over 3,000 weapons in the containers. A little more than 7,000 former fighters who voluntarily retired with cash packages left the camps in mid February, while 12 satellite camps were shut down in March.

The Mohan Baidya faction of UCPN-M described the decision of the AISC to hand over the PLA combatants to Nepal Army as 'surrender' and that it would protest against it.

April 11: UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal today remarked that the PLA combatants were handed over to the NA in haste considering the possible disruption to the integration process. He termed the move to hand over Maoist combatants, their arms and the cantonments to NA a "bold decision". Dahal remarked that the protests by his party hard-line faction led by senior Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya over the decision to hand over the combatants and arms do not hold water. "The protests by the faction of Kiran ji [Baidya] was part of their responsibility," said Dahal, hinting at the hardliners. "This [protest] is like their regular job. But, now petty issues should not be bickered over."

The UCPN-M secretary, C.P Gajurlel condemned the Police interference in the torch rally carried out by the hard-line faction of the UCPN-M today.

April 12:The AISC formed a taskforce to settle the technical issues of Army integration. The four-member task-force comprises AISC members Barshaman Pun of UCPN-M, Bhim Rawal of CPN-UML, Minendra Rijal of NC and Jitendra Dev of MJF-Loktantrik. The team has been asked to present its recommendations in the AISC meeting to be held today.

The Joint National People's Movement Committee, an alliance of 13 Communist parties led by hard-line faction of the UCPN-M announced the second round of protest, declaring Baburam Bhattarai-led Government a "fascist" coalition. The protests will start from April 20 with a mass meeting in Dhulikhel of Kavre District and will conclude on May 15 with torch rallies in the major towns across the country.

April 13: After three days of confusion and delay, the survey teams of the AISC resumed voluntary retirement process from today. UCPN-M directed commanders at cantonments to let the process move forward. "We were asked to resume the process from 1:30 pm today," said Balananda Sharma. As of today, altogether 638 combatants - 275 combatants at the Shaktikhor cantonment, 160 at Surkhet, 94 at Rolpa and 109 at Nawalparasi - have taken voluntary retirement, according to Sharma.

Moreover, the AISC has enforced a 12-point code of conduct for former PLA combatants, barring them from engaging in any political activity inside cantonments. The code came into effect in all the 15 cantonment sites from today.

April 15: Further, the ongoing second phase of voluntary retirement process of the combatants belonging to the PLA so far suggests the number of combatants choosing integration is going to be far less than 6,500-the combatants' intake number in the NA set by the seven-point agreement signed on November 1. Of the 9,705 combatants who opted for integration during regrouping in November 2011, 4,052 combatants from all the seven PLA division camps chose voluntary retirement as of today.

April 16: The second round of regrouping conducted by the AISC concluded at the PLA's Third Division Camp at Shaktikhor in Chitwan District. Altogether 1,587 of the total 2,414 former Maoist combatants kept at the Third division at Shaktikhor went for VRS during the regrouping process. With this, 5,480 former Maoist combatants have opted for VR in all seven Maoist divisions till the evening of April 16.

Parallel District and State committees of both factions of the UCPN-M are being established in six Mid Western Districts, "The establishment side's attempt to limit the role of experienced leaders has compelled us to form parallel committees for the sake of our existence," said Haribhakta Kandel, Maoists politburo member from the hardliner camp led by Party vice President Mohan Baidya.

April 17: The second round of regrouping conducted by the AISC concluded at all the seven divisions except Kailali today. Altogether 5,800 of the 9,705 former UCPN-M combatants who had initially opted for integration into NA chose VRS during the second round of regrouping that started at all the PLA divisions on April 8. As of today, 3,905 former UCPN-M combatants seem to be willing to join NA. There are 6,500 openings for UCPN-M combatants in the NA set by the seven-point agreement signed by the parties on November 1, 2011.

April 18: The UCPN-M, ex-combatants qualified for officer-level positions in the NA hierarchy have threatened to opt for voluntary retirement if they are awarded positions in the NA directorate as per the recommendations of the PLA leadership. As per the tacit understanding between the parties, the PLA leadership will recommend positions for the ex-combatants in the NA directorate. As of today of the 9705 combatants, 6413 have opted for voluntary retirement.

The UCPN-M chairman Prachanda said that his party would not step back from its stance of directly elected presidential system and federalism based on identity. "We will not give up our stance of federalism based on identity and directly elected presidential system while drafting new constitution," Dahal said, adding that the Maoist combatants were being integrated into transformed NA, not the traditional Army. "Our decision on army integration has discouraged those forces who are active to disrupt constitution drafting process," he added

April 19: The major three political parties - UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML agreed to merge two separate proposed commissions on Truth and Reconciliation and Disappearance.

April 20: Former PLA combatants who were disqualified by the UNMIN staged a sit-in protest at UCPN-M headquarters at Parisdanda, Koteshwor demanding rehabilitation package. The disqualified combatants have been demanding facilities on par with the combatants who have chosen voluntary retirement option.

April 21: Armed Police Force (APF) on April 21 arrested Binod Nepali, a former UCPN-M fighter heading home following his voluntary retirement, with six rounds of bullets of a SLR from Krishnapur VDC in Kanchanpur District, reports The Himalayan Times. Nepali was a Maoist fighter stationed at Kailali's Talband-based PLA Seventh Division. "During preliminary investigation, Nepali told police that he brought the bullets with the consent of his commander," Superintendent of Police (Kanchanpur) said.

The UCPN-M ex-combatants who opted for voluntary retirement during the second phase of the re-categorization have complained of inordinate delay by banks in cashing their paychecks."The Agricultural Development Bank in Dang asked us to visit the bank after three to four days. But when we visited the bank again we were told that the government had not transferred the money to the bank. We are confused," said Rajendra Pun, an ex-combatant from the fifth division. The process of re-categorization by the Special Committee secretariat concluded on April 19 with 6,576 combatants opting for voluntary retirement. The commanders, however, claimed that the banks are retaining the money for some time in order to collect interests. "They want to retain the amount for some time in order to collect interests," said Yam Bahadur Adhikari, division commander from the first division.

April 22: The leaders from major political parties today reached an understanding to adopt a mixed system of governance in which the executive powers will be shared between the directly-elected President and Parliament-elected Prime Minister. The leaders also agreed on directly-elected vice-president.

April 23: The UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the Parliament is setting up Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commission on the Disappeared to probe into wartime killings, torture and forced disappearance, adding that legal actions will be taken against those involved in such rights violations.

A large quantity of bombs and ammunition were found buried in a river near the Tila satellite cantonment in Gairigaun in Rolpa District Inspector Rupesh Khadka said that Police found explosive devices, bombs, bullets and other ammunitions in large quantity after locals informed the Police about the dump.

April 24: Political parties settled all the disputes seen in the constitution drafting process except State restructuring. The meeting of UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and the Madheshi alliance held at Constituent Assembly building settled their difference on the key issues related to the constitution. The understanding is to adopt the mixed electoral system where President and Prime Minister would share executive powers.

The Mohan Baidya faction of the UCPN-M reactivated 'people's volunteers bureau' which comprises former combatants and the young cadres. The Baidya faction announced the new 17-member central body of the volunteers bureau amidst a programme in Lalitpur. The bureau is headed by standing committee member Netra Bikram Chand. A number of leaders and cadres of the YCL, who were loyal to the hardliner faction, have joined the Volunteers.

April 26: Amidst differing positions of the three major parties on number of federal States in the new setup, the UCPN-M proposed a 10-State federal model based primarily on ethnic identity. The Maoists propose to keep Chitwan District as a centrally-administered zone. The proposal has, however, largely failed to impress the NC and CPN-UML, which are averse to the idea of ethnicity-based federal states

April 27: Former UCPN-M combatants have united under a new body called 'Ex People's Liberation Army Association', which is headed by former PLA Chief Nanda Kishor Pun 'Pasang'. The association was announced at a programme attended by the leaders of the UCPN-M establishment including party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai. The formation of the Ex-PLA Association comes two days after the hardliner Mohan Baidya faction reactivated its 'combat' organisaton 'People's Volunteers Bureau' which includes a number of discharged former combatants.

April 28: The meeting of top leaders of the major three political parties-- UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and Madheshi alliance held at CA building at New Baneshwor to find possible ways to resolve disputed issues related to the constitution drafting process ended inconclusively. The leaders discussed the model of federalism. However, they could not arrive at a consensus. The UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that the meeting ended with positive note.

May 1: Some 700 former PLA combatants who had opted for the integration into the NA during the second phase of regrouping has asked the AISC to send them into voluntary retirement. It has been learnt that the combatants are urging the Special Committee to re-open the option of voluntary retirement for them. Commander Tej Bahadur Oli at Nawalparasi's Jhyaltungdanda-based Fourth Division camp is also one of them, said Under Secretary Madhu Bilas Pandit.

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai today said that his Government had taken big risks to move forward the peace process toward conclusion and therefore should be allowed to remain in office until the new constitution is promulgated.

May 2: The major parties - NC, CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist and UDMF-- today agreed to form a new national Unity Government to replace the current Government to ensure constitution by the May 27 deadline. CPN- UML chairperson Jhala Nath Khanal said that there has been an agreement between the political parties to form a new national unity Government possibly by May 3 after dissolving the current Baburam Bhattarai-led Government.

May 3: Major political parties-UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML along with the DMF signed a five-point agreement on May 3-4 to form a National Unity Government. As per the agreement, all 48 Government ministers representing coalition partners UCPN-M and UDMF in the current cabinet tendered their resignation to Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai today.

May 4: The major three parties - UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and UDMF have decided, in a meeting, to form the cabinet by the evening of May 5. Emerging from the meeting, convened at the Prime Minister's residence in Kathmandu today , the UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal said that the national consensus Government would be constituted by May 5. According to sources, all the parties agreed to send the names of the ministerial candidates by that date.

May 5: Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai has administered the oath of office and secrecy to 11 ministers at the presence of President Dr Ram Baran Yadav in Sheetal Niwas today. The reshuffle is being carried out in a bid to form the national consensus government. Five of the ministers from UCPN- M, two from NC and five from UDMF have sworn in the presence of the President. The UCPN-M ministers include Narayan Kaji Shresha, Post Bahadur Bogati, Dina Nath Sharma, Barshaman Pun and Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, while Krishna Prasad Sitoula and Surya Man Gurung are representing NC and Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, Rajendra Mahato, Hridayesh Tripathi, Mahendra Raya Yadav and Raj Kishor Yadav are from United Democratic Madhesi Front.

May 6: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai today appointed N C leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula as the deputy prime minister. Sitaula took the oath of office and secrecy at the president's residence in Sheetal Niwas.PM Bhattarai appointed Sitaula in the post after NC President recommended his name for the post. However, the portfolio for Sitaula has not been finalised.

May 10: Cadres of the UCPN-M captured the land and property belonging to one District. The house was captured accusing Pahadi of selling the land that was being used by Badri Pahadi of Okharbote in Madirambeni Village Development Committee (VDC-1) in Sangkhuwasabha the Maoists.

May 14 UCPN-M cadres, Bijay Aale and Shankar Nepali Higher Secondary School in Prithvi Narayan Municipality-7 in Gorkha District on fire today.

May 15: The three major political parties, UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML together with the UMDF today reached a breakthrough on the new constitution as they agreed on 11-province federal structure along with mixed governance system. As per the agreement reached during talks, the names of the provinces would be determined by elected state assemblies themselves. The federal states would be carved out on the basis of ethnicity, geography and language, said Maoist vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha after the deliberations.

May 16: The UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal told party's central committee member that the elected President will exercise more executive rights than the Prime Minister who will be elected from the parliament.

The UCPN-M vice chairman Mohan Baidya, who leads hard-line faction in the party, met with NC president Sushil Koirala requesting that his party should take lead role in the constitution drafting process. Baidya urged the NC leader to lead constitution writing process by incorporating the views of all quarters.

May 18: The Bara District cadres of the YCL demanded the release of two of its two cadres who were held with weapons, explosives and contrabands. A Police team from Simara Area Police Office had held YCL, Bara sub-in charge and Bhojpura State Committee member Umesh Patel and UCPN-M cadre Narayan Singh Pun aka Binda Yadav with weapons, explosives and contraband from Bara's Manaharwa-9 VDC on May 15.

The Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has allocated ministerial portfolios to ministers from the UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML as well as the fringe parties.

May 19: The UCPN-M has "backtracked" from the May 15 accord among major parties about federating country into 11-provinces. The party has sought a new agreement on state restructuring to draft a new constitution within next 8 days. Receiving a memorandum of Madheshi and Janajati lawmakers, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that deal is no more relevant as UDMF disowned the agreement. "The agreement forged among three parties can not become a national consensus," Dahal said. 320 Madheshi and Janajati lawmakers in the CA submitted a memorandum to Dahal demanding to scrap the deal among major parties on contentious issues of new constitution. He said that there should be fresh negotiations among parties to forge consensus on federalism.

May 20: The talks between the three major parties and the UDMF scheduled today morning has been put off. The meeting was put off due to bandh called by Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), said leader of the CPN-UML, Surendra Pandey. The meeting was scheduled for this morning to seek a solution after various sectors protested the agreement of May 15 made among the three major political parties on 11 federal provinces.

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai today administered the oath of office and secrecy to three ministers at the presence of President Ram Baran Yadav. Badri Neupane of the Chure Bhavar Rastriya Ekta Party, Kumar Belbase of CPN-ML and Yadubansa Jha of CPN (ML-Socialist) were sworn in at a special function at the Office of the President.

A meeting of four political parties hit a road-block after the CPN-UML refused to sit for a dialogue saying it was futile if the UCPN-Maoist continues double-dealing by speaking of consensus and at the same time instigating different ethnic groups to take to the streets. However, the UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda while supporting the movement launched by different ethnic and Madhesi forces, insisted that a new constitution will the drafted within the remaining time-frame. An UML leader alleged the Maoist of trying to bargain for ethnic federalism by instigating different ethnic groups.

May 24: The UCPN-M and UMDF have agreed that the Prime Minister would not resign before the constitution is promulgated.

May 25: Three major parties - UCP-M, NC and CPN-UML - and UMDF have agreed to promulgate the constitution within May 27 while leaving disputed issues to the "transformed legislature parliament" to resolve.

Four major political forces - the UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and UDMF - failed to resolve unsettled issues of the new constitution, two days before the deadline of the Constituent Assembly. The UCPN-M and UDMF proposed to adopt either 14 provinces as proposed by majority members of the CA thematic Committee on State Restructuring and Distribution of State Power or six provinces as proposed by its minority members through a voting process in the CA on a single-identity basis; whereas, the NC and the CPN-UML opposed their proposal, saying the provinces should reflect multiple identities of the respective regions.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda's proposal to go for voting in the Constituent Assembly to decide on two disputed issue - state-restructuring and forms of governance- at a joint meeting of four major political parties at Singha Durbar was rejected by NC and CPN-UML.

May 27: The CA was dissolved without delivering the new constitution after the parties failed to reach consensus on the restructuring of the state. The cabinet meeting declared fresh election of the Constituent Assembly on November 22, 2012. Ministers from the CPN-UML and fringe parties walked out of the cabinet meeting opposing Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai's proposal to hold fresh election.

May 28: UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has described the Government's decision to hold fresh election of the Constituent Assembly as "constitutional and democratic step taken out of compulsion, which is in line with the Supreme Court's verdict". He has also urged the parties to be ready for national consensus Government.

May 29: CPN-UML accused the UCPN-M of conspiring to dissolve the CA without delivering new constitution. The CPN-UML accused the authoritarian motive of the UCPN-M as the main cause behind the CA dissolution and for the political crisis facing the country now.

June 2: An IED went off near Anada Higher Secondary School in Jalbire of Sindhupal chowk District, where Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun was attending a programme organized by the UCPN-M.

CPN- UML decided to form an internal commission to resolve dispute inside the party over the issue of identity-based federalism and forge consensus on addressing concerns of indigenous, Madhesi, dalit and other marginalised communities.

June 3: UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda has started discussions with the party leaders of various ranks in a bid to keep party unity intact. Pushpa Kamal Dahal consulted the leaders to narrow down the intra-party rift by taking dissenting Baidya faction into confidence.

June 5: The UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that the dissolved CA can be reinstated through consensus among political parties to settle the remaining tasks of the CA and promulgate the new constitution. "We are open to any alternative including reinstating the Constituent Assembly as long as it helps in forging consensus," said Prachanda, "since talks of resurrecting the dissolved CA are also making rounds".

UCPN-M Standing Committee member Dev Gurung said that his faction was ready to support the protest programmes of the opposition parties including NC and CPN-UML to exert pressure on Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai to step down and pave the way for national consensus Government. He also said that the chances to keep the UCPN-M party united were slim until the party is reorganized.

June 6 : The CPN-UML blamed Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattarai, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madheshi Forum leaders for the dissolution of the CA as "they ignored several alternatives to save the elected body".

June 7: The UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal today held meeting with the CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal seeking the latter's support to end the political impasse in the country. They also discussed possible way outs to end political polarization that was seen after the dissolution of CA on May 27. Jhala Nath Khanal suggested Prachanda to make Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai resign to build trust and pave the way for consensus Government.

June 11 : The UCPN-M senior vice-chairman, Mohan Baidya, has refused to meet Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal arguing there was no point in holding further talks with the party supremo, Baidya had refused Dahal´s phone request for a meeting on June 8 saying he would not sit for talks unless Dahal commits to meet three preconditions. Baidya also said past meeting between the two had not yielded any results.

June 12: The NC has expressed concerns over the UCPN-M's "extortion drive" targeting industrialists and businessmen in the name of managing their former combatants. Issuing a press statement, the party has said, "The Nepali Congress strongly denounces the Maoists for carrying out extortions and demanding employment and shares in industries based in Hetauda Industrial Estate and other areas of Makwanpur.

June 13:A Standing Committee (SC) meeting of the establishment faction of the UCPN-M decided today that party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is ready to quit the party leadership for the sake of preventing party split. The decision comes at a time when the dissident faction of the Maoist party led by Senior Vice chairman, Mohan Baidya has called a national gathering for June 15 in a bid to form new party.

In an attempt to prevent a vertical split in the party, UCPN- M establishment faction has handed over a proposal on party unity to hard-line faction leader Mohan Baidya Party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal handed over a seven-point proposal to vice chairman Baidya during a meeting. Receiving the proposal, Baidya told Dahal that he would clarify his final position after holding discussions with other leaders of his faction, according Dahal´s aide Shiva Khakurel.

June 14 : The hard-line faction of the UCPN-M has expressed its dissatisfaction over the seven-point agenda floated by Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal for party unity The faction has said that the seven-point agenda does not create a basis for unity as there is nothing new to it. According to Dev Gurung, an influential leader within the hard-line camp, Chairman Dahal has failed to live up to his commitment to state in writing that the present line adopted by the party has failed and that he would apologise for the mistakes. "

The NA today said its attention was drawn to some remarks made by political leaders in public forums and to the news items relating to the army published in different media. The NA´s statement comes in the wake of UCPN Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal saying publicly that Maoist party had already won the confidence of the NA and that the national army won´t support President Dr Ram Baran Yadav if he decides to sack the incumbent caretaker Prime Minister from his post.

June 17: At a time when the UCPN-M establishment faction is requesting rival faction led by vice chairman Mohan Baidya to sit for negotiation to keep party unity intact, Baidya has proposed name for the new party in national gathering of the state committee-level cadres taking place in the capital. Presenting a political report, vice chairman Baidya has proposed the name for the new party as UCPN-M (Revolutionary) among the leaders.

Responding to party establishment faction's seven point proposal on party unity, dissenting faction had sought written self-criticism from the rival faction for its mistakes, errors and the weaknesses and also asked it to express commitment not to repeat such mistakes in the days to come. However, the establishment faction is yet to give precise answer to the response of Baidya faction.

President Ram Baran Yadav called all the chiefs of the political parties represented in the former CA to his office and asked them to forge consensus to end the current political and constitutional crises.

June 18: The UCPN-M, the largest party in the dissolved Constituent Assembly, has formally split with the dissident Mohan Baidya faction announcing the formation of a new party, Communist Party of Nepal, Maoist (CPN-M). The Baidya faction announced the new party at the end of the three-day national gathering of its cadres at Sherpa Sewa Kendra in Bouddha, Kathmandu. Baidya, who was vice chairman in the UCPN-M, leads the new party, but the office-bearers are yet to be named. The new party has 44-member central committee, comprising those who were in the central committee of the UCPN-M. During the closed door session, almost all the discussion panels had suggested the leadership to form a new party rather than going for a patch-up with the party establishment. The national gathering also endorsed Baidya's political paper which calls for preparations of "people's revolt on the foundation of people's war". His paper described the UCPN-M establishment as "reformist and right-leaning", blaming it for the failure to promulgate the new constitution. Despite floating the new party, Baidya group has said it would still keep open the doors for talks with the UCPN-M leadership on ideological issues. Baidya said, "The objective circumstances are favourable for a revolution. We should now create the subjective circumstances for revolution."

Chairman of the newly formed Communist Party of Nepal, Maoist (CPN-Maoist) Mohan Baidya said his party was against parliamentary politics and that it might not even register with the Election Commission.

Baidya accused the UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai of ruining the achievements of the 'people's war' and compromising the party's basic principles. Speaking at a press conference organised in the capital to officially announce the new party, Baidya said his faction decided to part ways after the UCPN-M establishment chose "reformist and rightist path" and that their activities were guided by opportunism. The hardliner leader also accused Dahal and Bhattarai of trying to compromise national independence. "They went on to disarm the People's Liberation Army instead of integrating them in a respectful manner. They also failed to draft the constitution," he said claiming that the UCPN-M will not remain as big once his party expands its organisational base to all levels.

Baidya said there was still possibility of unity with Dahal and Bhattarai if they admitted their mistakes and accepted the ideological line of the new party.

The party does not see the possibility of "people's revolt" right now, but it "might opt for it after preparations", Baidya added.

June 24: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai dismissed the opposition parties' demands for resignation from his post and Claimed that the Government would conduct the fresh CA polls on the declared date on November 22 and he would hand over power only to an elected Prime Minister.

June 26: CPN-UML politburo member Raghuji Panta said his party would name K.P Oli as its prime ministerial candidate if the NC failed to come up with a name at the earliest. NC leader Arjun Narsingh K.C said his party's central working committee meeting would be held within the next ten days to name the prime ministerial for the consensus government. He said either Ram Chandra Poudel or Sher Bahadur Deuba is the obvious candidates.

June 28: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said that the parties need to arrive at a concrete understanding on ending the current deadlock and that he is hopeful of a compromise among parties.

June 29: NC and CPN-UML leaders said that they are ready to attend a meeting of the prime minister-led Special Committee for the Integration, Supervision and Rehabilitation of PLA in Nepal Army. The Nepal Army is all set to start groundwork for the selection next week.

Chairman of the newly-formed CPN-M, Mohan Baidhya, urged the party cadres to take the breakaway from the UCPN-M as a natural process. He said formation of the revolutionary party was a must to pave a way to the current political transition.

July 2: Daily life was adversely affected in Chitwan District due to a day-long bandh imposed by the UCPN-M. UCPN-M enforced the bandh protesting against the clash that occurred between its cadres and that of the breakaway party, Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist, Baidya), in Chitwan over the issue of party office on June 30. At least ten persons were injured, from both sides, when dispute over the ownership of the party office located at Krishna Nagar turned into a violent confrontation.

The dispute between the rival Maoist parties over the ownership of party offices seemed far from over with the vice chairman of the breakaway CPN-Maoist, C.P Gajurel, demanding that his party also wanted its share in the central office of the UCPN -M located at Peris Danda in Koteshwor.

Leaders of the newly formed CPN-Maoist met Nepali Congress (NC) president Sushil Koirala to discuss possible collaboration between the two parties to topple the Bhattarai Government. During the meeting held at Koirala's residence in Maharajgunj, both sides agreed that the Government must be removed at the earliest and that a national consensus Government should replace it. They also agreed that the caretaker government should not be allowed to introduce a full-fledged budget and they would strongly oppose if the government tried to 'forcefully' introduce it.

July 4: PM Baburam Bhattarai met with Janajati (indigenous) leaders of various political parties who have been demanding identity-based federalism. PM Bhattarai called the Janjati leaders at a time when the latter are said to have agreed on the formation of a cross-party joint front to press for identity based federalism. More than 30 Janajati leaders including CPN-UML vice chairman Ashok Rai, UML politburo member Prithivi Subba Gurung, DB Lama, Malla K. Sundar, chairman of NEFIN Raj Kumar Lekhi, former chairman of NEFIN Dr Om Gurung, former minister Rakam Chemjong, Minak Lal Shrestha, Indra Kumar Gurung Pari Thapa.

CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal met President Ram Baran Yadav and requested him to start process to form new Government. During the meeting held at Shital Niwas, Nepal informed the President about the decision of the opposition parties that Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai must quit without further delay in order to pave the way for formation of a national unity Government.

July 7: With the integration of former UCPN-M combatants, PLA fighters, coming to a halt following protests by the combatants against the selection standards of the Nepal Army, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said that the integration process would be carried out in a respectful manner. Talking to a group of Maoist cadres who met him in Baluwatar to draw his attention to the complaints made by the protesting combatants, PM Bhattarai said he was in "serious consultation" with the concerned sides on the problems in the ongoing process and that the integration would be conducted in a respectful manner, a press note issued by the PM's secretariat stated.

Chairman of the newly formed CPN-Maoist, Mohan Baidya, has described his party as the "third force", claiming that it was capable of leading the nation. Speaking during a book launch in the capital, Baidya said his party emerged as the third force in order to give an outlet to the political deadlock. He, however, did not explain on what basis his party could claim third position.

July 9: UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda defended his party's line of peace and constitution, stating that the signing of the 12-point understanding in 2005 was "fundamentally correct". This was stated during the presentation of a political document in UCPN-Maoist's Politburo meeting. Prachanda also acknowledged India's supportive role, which he said, was crucial to the ongoing peace and constitution writing processes. Dahal further said that the party must stand firm on the line of peace and constitution, while correcting "past mistakes", including the handling of the Rookmangud Katawal case, the election of the President and the Vice President and the recent split in the party. The Maoist government in May 2009 fired Katawal, the then Army chief, accusing him of disobeying orders.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said leaving the Government without striking agreement on contentious issues of the new constitution will be 'suicidal' for the party. In his political document presented to the party's Politburo, he firmly stood in favour of the Government. The opposition parties have been saying Bhattarai's resignation is the only option to end the protracted political deadlock.

July 11: The UCPN-M and CPN-Maoist, the breakaway party formed under Mohan Baidya's leadership, formed a joint task force to settle the disputes regarding the ownership of the party office seen after the party split.

July 12: The government is preparing to announce one-third budget for the fiscal year 2012-13 through an ordinance on July 15 following an understanding between the Government and the opposition parties. Earlier, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, Finance Minister Barshaman Pun and Finance Secretary Krishna Hari Banskota had briefed President Ram Baran Yadav about Government's preparation to bring the budget. Though the Government was planning to introduce full budget earlier, it is preparing to announce one-third budget following the Supreme Court's ruling on the issue and objection of the opposition parties including NC and CPN-UML. The Supreme Court had issued a ruling on July 1 saying that the Government had no ground to introduce full budget without consensus among political parties as required by Article 43 of the Interim Constitution.

July 14: The CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya is all set to leave for China on July 15. He is heading for China at the invitation of CPC. This will be Baidya's first foreign visit after being the chairman of the new party. According to party spokesperson Pampha Bhusal, party foreign department chief Indra Mohan Sigdel is also leaving for China with Baidya. The leaders are due to hold discussion on bilateral ties between the two communist parties of the country and situation that has emerged following the party split, among other issues.

Krishna Rai, a central committee member of the newly formed CPN-Maoist, announced his return to UCPN-M, saying that the breakaway party's leadership has failed to justify the split. Organising a press conference, Rai said the Mohan Baidya-led party lacked clear vision and that its future was uncertain. He also said that ideological dogma is being espoused by the CPN-Maoist.

July 16: The UCPN-M plenum has been deferred for July 17. The meeting earlier scheduled for July 16 (today) has been postponed despite all the preparations due to tragic accidents at separate places of the country. According to Maoist office secretary BK Shrestha, the meeting has been postponed as the party cadres have also been injured in the accidents that took place at Sunwal of Nawalparasi and Krishnabhir along the East West highway.

Students affiliated to CPN-Maoist (Mohan Baidya) aligned All Nepal National Independent Students' Union (Revolutionary) carried out vandalism at two colleges, in a bid to exert pressure for removing their foreign names. The student cadres carried out vandalism at the South Western State College at Basundhara, at the Everest Florida College at Meenbhawan and at the Rato Bangla College in Lalitpur. The group of students also damaged a vehicle of the Rato Bangla College.

The Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist announced that the party would soon start carrying out 'vigilante justice' against corrupt officials. Bharat Dhanuk, CPN-Maoist Dadeldhura District in-charge, said that the party is starting the campaign across the country as part of its preparation for a 'people's revolt.' He also said that the party was regrouping former Maoist combatants and re-organising party structure. The mother party, UCPN-M, had first introduced the vigilante justice system also known as 'Jana Karbahi' or the 'people's action' during the insurgency.

July 17: The seventh central plenum of the UCPN-M started in the capital. Party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda inaugurated the five-day plenum at Bhrikuti Mandap. Over 5000 state committee-level party workers are participating in the plenum. The plenum will review the party's performance in relation to the peace process and the constitution-making apart from working out the programmes and policies.

Students affiliated with the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist vandalised Kathmandu Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) located at Buddhanagar, Kathmandu, accusing it of charging exorbitant amount of fee.

UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal presented his political document in the party's central plenum that kicked off in the capital. He presented his draft at the start of the closed door session following the inaugural ceremony. Fourteen groups have been formed to discuss the draft and pass comments on it.

July 18: The closed door discussion in the ongoing central plenum of UCPN-M at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, was adjourned due to the sit-in by former combatants, demanding investigation into the alleged misappropriation of the funds meant for them, along with other demands. Nearly thousand former PLA members attending the plenum refused to continue the debate on party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal's political paper saying that the party leadership should first address their demands.

CPN-UML concluded that there is no alternative to holding fresh parliamentary election given the current political situation of the country. A meeting of party held at its headquarters in Balkhu had concluded that parliamentary election should be carried out after forming a consensus Government.

C.P Gajurel, vice chairman of the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist warned of strong protest to remove PM Baburam Bhattarai from his post if he does not step down himself. Gajurel ruled out possibility of unification between his party and UCPN-M.

The CPN-UML has relieved around a dozen Janajati leaders of their responsibilities for what it termed their "non-compliance with the party's official position on federalism" and for remaining absent in party meetings for a long time. However, the leaders will continue to hold their party posts until another decision is taken, according to party leaders.

July 19: In a lack of faith in the party leadership, leaders attending the seventh plenum of the UCPN-M came down heavily on party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai. The Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Act (BIPPA) signed by the Bhattarai-led government with India last year and the Government's alleged plans to hand over the management of the Tribhuwan International Airport to an Indian company were the focus of the seventh plenum.

The UCPN-M formed a committee led by leader Posta Bahadur Bogati to investigate the alleged misuse of the funds released by the Government for the former combatants and another committee led by Amik Sherchan to look into the financial irregularities in the party.

July 20: The seventh plenum of the UCPN-M turned into a battlefield for a while after a "minor dispute" broke out between Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai factions. The incident comes hot on the heels of top leaders of the party vowing to end factional politics and keep the party united.

The decision of CPN-UML to strip Janajati leaders of their responsibilities has further hit the relationship between the party establishment and the dissident leaders. The leaders termed the party's decision to not opt for revival of the Constituent Assembly a conspiracy to take the country politics to "regression." A meeting of the leaders at Vice-chairman Ashok Rai's residence flayed the party's decision to go for a fresh mandate to complete the remaining tasks of peace and constitution writing.

July 22: The UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that PM Baburam Bhattarai would not resign from the post until the political parties forge consensus. Dahal said the resignation of the PM under the existing circumstances would further deepen the political crisis in the country. He also said that PM Bhattarai would resign if the major political parties reach an understanding on the remaining disputed issues related to the constitution drafting process and the promulgation of the new constitution. Dahal also said that fresh election of the Constituent Assembly (CA) was the best option to give outlet to the country.

The EC called a meeting with the top leaders of the three major political parties - UCPN-M Chairman Dahal, Nepali Congress (NC) Vice-President Ram Chandra Paudel and Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Maoist Leninist (CPN-UML) Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal - at its office in Kantipath to forge consensus on amending the constitutional provisional and related acts within a week or else it would be impossible to hold the CA election within the stipulated time of November 22 this year.

July 23: Students affiliated to the ANNISU-R, the student wing of the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist, set ablaze a school bus belonging to the Delhi Public School near the Seutipul in Sunsari District. The school is located inside the premises of the BPKIHS in Dharan.

Raut had said that the school was targeted for high fees and the school curriculum did not comply with the national curriculum. He also warned of further crackdown on the school if it did not change the fee structure and curriculum. The union has been pressuring those Plus Two level educational institutions having English names to change their names and maintain uniformity in fee structures.

Cadres of the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist enforced general strike in Panchthar on the second day. Normal life in the District has been crippled as the Maoist cadres enforced the bandh since July 22 accusing NC activists of killing Gajendra Jabegu, a member of their party. They demanded compensation for the bereaved family and guilty be brought to book. However, NC denied the charges.

Revealing the internal differences within the UCPN-M over the Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (BIPPA) signed with India during last year, party's vice chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that the agreement should be "corrected" as it is not in national interest.

July 24: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai renewed his pledge to provide identity cards and state facilities to those injured and disabled during Maoist insurgency on the basis of their identity cards.

Police arrested District in-charge of the ANNISU-R Prahlad Raut in connection with the arson incident.

The main opposition parties, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML decided to hold "decisive talks" with the UCPN-M leadership on key issues such as election and formation of unity government. Nepali Congress vice president Ram Chandra Poudel said after the meeting of the senior leaders of the two parties at the CPN-UML headquarters Balkhu that decisive talks would be held with the Maoists on July 26.

Senior leader of CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that no political force would last long if it attempts to run the country by infringing fundamental norms and values of democracy. The leader said the UCPN-M was effortful to run the state mechanisms by going against the democratic norms and values.

July 25: Admitting that holding fresh polls for the CA in November was not possible under the present circumstances, ruling UCPN-M leaders, including Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, have sought the consent of opposition parties for fixing a new poll date in the coming yea. But leaders from main opposition parties NC and CPN-UML, at a three-party meeting, turned down the UCPN-M proposal outright. Prime Minister Bhattarai, Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, Deputy Prime Minister and party Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha from UCPN-M, President Sushil Koirala, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Ram Chandra Paudel from the NC and Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, Madhav Kumar Nepal and Bamdev Gautam from CPN-UML, among other leaders, held a meeting at the UML party office at Balkhu. NC and UML leaders insisted that the contentious issues can be discussed only after the formation of a coalition government with the major political parties on board. CPN-UML Secretary Shankar Pokharel said that resignation of Prime Minister Bhattarai and formation of a consensus government are preconditions for ending the ongoing political stalemate.

July 26: General Secretary of the newly formed CPN-Maoist, Ram Bahadur Thapa, said his party was not going to reach any formal alliance with the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML. Thapa also came down heavily against the Bhattarai Government, saying that no political consensus is likely until the government stepped down. He said only a roundtable conference of all the political forces could find a solution to the current stalemate. According to him, the CPN-Maoist is ready to discuss any option - fresh election to CA, parliamentary election or revival of dissolved CA - provided there is a roundtable debate.

July 27: China is concerned over the growing "foreign interference" in Nepal in the pretext of adopting federalism in the country. Mohan Vaidya, 'chairman' of CPN-Maoist, a breakaway faction of UCPN-Maoist, who has just returned from a goodwill visit to China, said, "The Chinese leaders have expressed concern over the increasing foreign interference in Nepal in the pretext of federating the states.

July 29: CPN-Maoist has directed its party organisations to launch a number of protests to "expose" the wrongdoings of the government and to create a wave of agitation in sectors including educational institutions, hotels and industries.The news report states that CPN-Maoist has issued a circular to its sister organisations to launch "aggressive protest programmes" to widen its influence. One leader said students had already begun protests by shutting down schools and burning their buses. The circular, issued by the Central Committee to all party organisations, stated that the party should focus on village-level activities, as other parties are busy in Kathmandu.

July 31: The 'brigade commander' of the Fifth Division of the PLA Dipendra Shahi said that they would not allow those leaders who wanted the PLA to surrender on the pretext that they were disqualified. He further said some leaders within the UCPN-M, CPN-Maoist and opposition parties, who are against the fighters, are in the target of attack. Shahi warned, "That the attack could be either physical or opinion-based." Fighters who fought for 10 years for the welfare of people have been imprisoned in cantonments and have been disrespectfully behaved, he alleged.

August 1: Three students were critically injured when a clash erupted between the students affiliated to ANNFSU, student wing of CPN-UML and students of ANNISU-Revolutionary, student wing of UCPN-Maoist at Musikot-based Khalnga Multiple Campus in Rukum District. Those injured in the clashes are ANNISU-Revolutionary, Rukum District member Sushil Bista, Campus Unit chairman Sundar Sharma and Campus Unit member Binod Oli. They have received deep cut on their heads.

August 2: UCPN-M decided to form a 251-member national convention organizing committee, flouting its own statute which calls for a maximum of 175 members in such a committee. The party though had formed a 175-member committee earlier; it added 76 more members in the committee following pressure from state committees. When asked, party UCPN-M spokesman Dina Nath Sharma said, "Party spirit is more important than the number." There are 31 women, 13 Madhesis and nine Dalits in the expanded general convention organizing committee.

August 3: The decision of UCPN-M to form a 251-member national convention organizing committee has received criticism from different factions in the party. Sources claimed that the cadres of Baburam Bhattarai had expressed dissatisfaction over the selection process through various means of communication. Some 11 leaders of Bhojpura State Committee including Rautahat District in-charge Devendra Patel, Bara District in-charge Hari Chaulagain 'Lalkiran', former MP Satya Narayan Bhagat, former minister, Jwala Kumari Sah and Uddhab Pokhrel were preparing to quit the party by organizing a press conference at Birgunj. The Madheshi leaders also have said that the 19 members out of 251 strong NCOC counts to be only seven per cent, which is very low, and have demanded proportional representation.

August 4: UCPN-M decided to hold its general convention from January 27, 2013. A meeting of the general convention organising committee held at the party headquarters, Peris Danda, fixed the general convention date. However, the end date of the general convention was rather unclear. According to Dina Nath Sharma, who is now replaced by Agni Sapkota as party spokesperson, the general convention would conclude by February 12. Similarly, the party will conduct the conventions of its village, district and state committees by January 13, starting from October 2, 2011.

The meeting also changed the responsibilities of the central leaders according to which Dahal will command the entire affairs of the party at the centre while Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai will look after matters with the government. Likewise, Krishna Bahadur Mahara has been appointed head of the organisation department while Post Bahadur Bogati will oversee matters with the party headquarters. Dina Nath Sharma has been given the responsibility of intellectual department.

August 6: Normal life in three Districts of Kathmandu Valley have been affected due to a chakkajam (vehicular shutdown) enforced by the CPN-UML aligned YAN for the second day on August 6.YAN, supported by 16 youth wings of various parties, is imposing the vehicular traffic from 6am to 10am in the Valley since August 5 demanding the resignation of caretaker PM Baburam Bhattarai at the earliest to make way for a new national consensus government.

The UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda has stepped up efforts to strike a "working alliance" with the Mohan Baidya led Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist, Baidya). Leaders from both the parties claim such an alliance will prepare ground for party unity in the future.

Dahal is also planning to "re-strengthen" relations with Madheshi parties and Janajati constituencies, according to sources. Dahal also plans to enhance strategic alliance with the SLMM so that their power to bargain with the NC and the CPN-UML gets a boost.

August 7: Reacting to PM Baburam Bhattarai's "foreign intervention" remark, CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal on August 6 asked the PM to clarify his remarks. On August 3, PM Bhattarai had spoken extensively about "foreign intervention", indirectly admitting that intervention in the country's internal affairs was growing of late. He had said that the "key to run the country is somewhere else". "You already know about regional and international dynamics. It is not easy to get things done the way one would like," Bhattarai had said.

Khanal said that his party would not accept ethnic federalism abandoning CPN-UML's official line of multi-ethnic federalism. Instead, his party "is ready for fresh polls" after the formation of a national consensus government. Reiterating that the present government should quit, he said a consensus government is the only way out of the present political crisis. He warned that the government would be forcibly removed through protests if the UCPN-M did not come forward for consensus.

The UCPN-M said that there is no meaning in demanding resignation of the PM as the government has already turned into a caretaker. Hinting at the NC and the CPN-UML, the party also said that there is a "serious conspiracy" to impose the parliamentary system in the country, sabotaging the agenda of the CA. Newly appointed UCPN-M spokesperson Agni Sapkota said that the five-point agreement signed by the parties on May 3, 2012, was no longer relevant with the dissolution of the CA on May 27. Accordingly, the NC alone could not claim leadership of the government but that it was open to all parties, including the Maoists. Sapkota said the Maoist party was open to either revival of the CA or fresh elections. He said that there should be an agreement on contentious issues of the new constitution. Opposition parties, however, are saying that they are not ready to discuss other issues without Bhattarai's resignation.

August 8: YAN, the youth wing of the CPN-UML, decided to allow the vehicles of educational institutions to ply on the roads during their chakkajam (vehicular strike) in the morning of August 8 (today). A meeting of the YAN leaders in the evening of August 7 decided not to restrict school and college buses. The YAN also reduced the four-hour chakkajam to three hours in Kathmandu valley, starting from 6 am. However, the duration of chakkajam outside the valley will be as it is, YAN vice president Jhapat Rawal said. The YAN has been enforcing chakkajam from August 5 to pressure the government to step down.

The CPN-UML leader Prithivi Subba Gurung said that Janajatis were left with no option but to form their own party as major political parties NC and the CPN-UML turned a blind eye to the issues concerning the indigenous nationalities. He said there was pressing need for a separate party of the indigenous nationalities to ensure their rights. A national gathering of NEFIN held in the first week of July had decided to form a new party on August 9. CPN-UML has already relieved Gurung and other senior Janajati leaders off crucial responsibilities inside the party to punish them for criticizing the party for its stand against identity-based federalism.

NWPP chairman Narayan Man Bijukchhe urged President Ram Baran Yadav to take a step to end political deadlock of the country. He said that President should not remain silent to prevent the country from further political crisis. President Yadav on August 5 had consulted leaders of 27 political parties, including NC and CPN-UML to find way outs to the current political impasse in the country.

August 9: The ruling parties- UCPN-M and SLMM-decided to form a separate alliance of pro-federalist forces. A meeting of the ruling and certain fringe parties decided to form a "broader alliance of federalist supporters. Altogether 21 political parties including the UCPN-Maoist, Madheshi parties aligned to SLMM and other fringe parties marked their presence at the meeting. According to a press statement issued by the Prime Minister's office, the meeting concluded that the pro-federalist forces should move ahead in unity in order to institutionalize the republican order, secularism, state-restructuring with federalism as per the spirit of the people's movement-II, Madhes movement, indigenous people, Dalit, women and Muslim agitations. Policy and programmes of federal democratic alliance was presented at the meeting. The parties would discuss the proposed policy and programme and sit for another meeting scheduled for August 12, the statement said. The meeting discussed the alternatives to the current political crisis which include holding elections to the CA, reinstatement of legislative parliament to release the new constitution and holding parliamentary elections. The meeting has also decided to adopt the strategy to expose anti-CA elements. The ruling alliance initiated the move to form an alliance after over two dozen political parties, including the NC and CPN-UML formed an alliance to topple the government.

CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel as saying that his party has no greed to take the government leadership but is ready to take charge if NC backs out. He urged the NC leaders to solve their internal conflicts if they want to lead the government. Claiming that the Baburam Bhattarai-led government is degrading every day, Pokharel said that the President is becoming more active to compensate for the same. Pokharel further claimed that his party CPN-UML has concluded that the constitution should be drafted through a fresh mandate. Claiming that the CA has completed 90 percent of the works for the new constitution, Pokharel claimed that it can be continued. However, he said that there could be some technical difficulties for the same. Therefore, to take it smoothly, the new parliament should complete the rest of the process. Furthermore, Pokharel claimed that the states cannot be divided on the basis of caste or ethnicity. Claiming that CPN-UML is not anti-federalist, Pokharel said that party supports multi-identity based federalism. In a different context, Pokharel accused the UCPN-M of trying to impose authoritarian rule. Pokharel claimed that UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda had two cards up his sleeves. Pokhrel said that Dahal's first card of 'People's War' and 'People's Liberation Army' has fallen and now he wants to deal his second card of an ethnic-based federalism.

August 10: The CPN-Maoist-Baidya announced an alliance with seven other fringe left parties to push its demand for leadership of the next Government. CPN-M-Baidya vice chairman CP Gajurel said at a press conference organised to inform about the formation of the Federal Republican Front. Gajurel heads the Front. He also said the CPN-M-Baidya was firm in its demand for a roundtable conference in order to find a way out of the current political crisis. The parties in the front include Revolutionary Communist Party of Nepal, CPN-Unified, Tamsaling Nepal Rastriya Dal, Nepal Nagarik Party, Tharu Mukti Party and Jajamukti Party.

UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that formation of new alliance to press for identity-based federalism would not disrupt the environment for consensus among the political parties. Dahal said that the proposed alliance would help build trust instead.

August 13: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said that he was ready to quit "any minute" provided there was an alternative to the his government.

Leaders of ruling UCPN-M, United UDMF and 21 other fringe parties have decided to announce the formation of Federal Democratic Alliance of "pro-federal forces" on August 15. A meeting of the ruling coalition was held to discuss the formation of proposed alliance of Maoists, Madhesh based parties and fringe parties (that want the establishment of federal Nepal) until the next election took a decision to that effect.

CPN-UML leader K.P Oli said that even as his party was ready to back the NC to head the next government the NC party would not able to run the government. Oli claimed that CPN-UML was the only party that could effectively lead the government given the ongoing tussle between the UCPN-M and the NC. In what contradicted the protests being organised by CPN-UML's Youth Association demanding Prime Minister Bhattarai's resignation, Oli said there was no point demanding the resignation until there was consensus along with an agreement on the prime ministerial candidate.

Former PLA combatants under the seventh PLA camp in Kailali have left their cantonments in droves. They said they can no longer lead a cloistered life waiting for the integration work to make headway.

A few combatants remain in the Talband-based main camp while two other satellite camps are vacant, NA Colonel Arjun Khadka said. He said the satellite camps at Masuritya and Chisapani are vacant since August 12. He said their commanders have stopped communicating with the camp. There are 319 combatants under the seventh division camp.

The CPN-UML instructed its leaders from the centre to the local level to focus on preparations for upcoming fresh polls. Issuing an intra-party circular to cadres across the country and aboard, CPN-UML has asked all eligible voters to be registered with the new digital voter registration campaign launched by the Election Commission. CPN-UML leaders said the circular was issued after concluding that the parties had no alternative to fresh polls given the dissolution of the CA without a new constitution. The circular stated that CPN-UML is in favour of parliamentary elections with the mandate of completing the remaining tasks of a new constitution.

August 15: UCPN-Maoist-led FDRA of 21 political parties was formally announced. UCPN-M 'chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda heads the alliance. The FDRA consists of all the allies in the ruling coalition, including the Madheshi Front and some fringe political parties. Prem Bahadur Singh, a former minister and the chairman of Loktantrik Samajbadi Dal, has been appointed its spokesperson.

UCPN-M, Chairman, Dahal during the occasion said that the alliance was formed in order to press the agenda of federalism and that it was not targeted against any particular party or parties. He said it was going to be a long-term strategic alliance. Claiming that other parties, including the Mohan Baidya led CPN-Maoist-Baidya would also join the FDRA eventually, 'Prachanda' reiterated that the government was not going to resign until there was consensus between the parties. Dahal also said fresh election to the CA was the first option but the alliance would also be ready for reinstatement of the dissolved CA for a brief period provided the parties arrived at an understanding on promulgation of the constitution.

Senior CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal said the UCPN-Maoist-led FDRA announced would only invite political confrontation. The CPN-UML leader also claimed that Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai would be removed from his post through a street movement.

August 16: UCPN-Maoist 'chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, who heads the newly formed FDRA of 20 political parties, claimed that the alliance would be instrumental in finding a channel to the current political stalemate.

August 17: UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, who heads newly formed FDRA, suggested NC and CPN-UML to form a separate alliance. "It will be better if NC and UML form new alliance bringing together those parties who share common ideology," said Prachanda.

August 19: UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and PM Baburam Bhattarai have agreed to resend the two election-related ordinances rejected by President Ram Baran Yadav. The move is likely to escalate the already fragile tensions between the President and the Prime Minister. A meeting of the two leaders also concluded that the President was crossing his 'constitutional limits' by taking political decisions. Immediately after his arrival from a three-day visit outside the Kathmandu valley, Dahal met Bhattarai to discuss ways to tackle the President's rejection of the ordinances. According to a source, the two leaders concluded that if the party failed to raise its voice against the President's move, similar steps could be taken in future.

Talking to reporters outside Kathmandu, Dahal said that the President committed a mistake by rejecting the ordinances. Maoist Spokesman Agni Sapkota said that the Government had begun preparations for resending the ordinances.

August 20: DPM and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that UCPN-Maoist is ready to quit Government if the parties forge agreement on peace and constitution. Shrestha said his party is open to discussion on a formation of a new government if that creates an enabling atmosphere towards forging national consensus. He was of the said that the country might face political uncertainty and even suffer great crisis if the current government steps down without parties forging national consensus and a stable alternative government in place.

DPM further termed the President's refusal to endorse two ordinances related to election that was forwarded by the Government as "unfortunate". He said there is great risk that regressive forces might raise their ugly head and the achievements gained so far might be all lost if there is a clash of interest between the President and Government.

CPN-UML termed the rejection of the election ordinances by President Ram Baran Yadav as a welcome move. Issuing a press statement, CPN-UML 'vice chairman' , Bam Dev Gautam said that criticizing the President for turning down the ordinances is "undemocratic and authoritarian act" and that the President's move was nothing but usual.

NC leader Ram Saran Mahat blamed his party's three main leaders - 'president' Sushil Koirala, 'vice president' Ram Chandra Poudel and Sher Bahadur Deuba - for failing to give a direction to the party. Mahat further said the NC had not been able to give an outlet to the current political stalemate because of clash of personal interests of the three key leaders.

August 21: in a rejoinder to UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda's recent remarks accusing him of posing hurdle in the efforts to find consensus between the parties, NC President Sushil Koirala said consensus has not evolved because of Dahal's 'conspiracy'. Koirala said dissolution of the CA without delivering the constitution and the prolonged stalemate were part of Dahal's conspiracy. He, however, did not explain further. Koirala further said the NC would not be ready to discuss any of the options until Baburam Bhattarai Government stepped down. He also said that the NC must get the Government leadership. The NC president also claimed that there was no dispute as such in the party and that party affairs were run under established norms and procedures.

CPN-Maoist-Baidya and RPP-Nepal chairman Kamal Thapa held discussion on the possible way outs to current political deadlock of the country. The two leaders also shared their views regarding the issue of nationalism. The pro-monarchy leader also stressed on the need for the formation of election Government to hold fresh elections of the CA to promulgate new constitution during the meeting with Baidya. On the occasion, Baidya informed Thapa about newly formed alliance under the leadership of his party saying that the alliance was formed to struggle against anti-nationalist forces.

August 23: UCPN-Maoist has decided to take initiation to restart obstructed army integration process. A meeting of party office bearers, which was also attended by the commanders of the former PLA held at party headquarters in Perisdanda, took the decision to restart the works related to the integration within two days. The meeting also discussed the proper management of the combatants who have chosen voluntarily retirement and their role in the party after the retirement. According to ex-PLA spokesperson Chandra Prakash Khanal, the meeting decided to take special initiation to integrate 3,113 combatants, who have been cantoned at various camps, from the party and government level.

August 24: CPN-UML leader, K.P Sharma Oli said that the opposition parties will not wait more than a week for the UCPN-Maoist-led government to do something to reach political consensus. He warned that the government would be brought down through agitation if it failed to arrive at a consensus by August 30.

FDRA of the ruling parties led by UCPN-Maoist has decided to organise a broad debate with all the political parties and representatives of the civil society on September 4.

August 26: UCPN-Maoist, NC and CPN-UML agreed to move ahead as per "politics of national consensus" after doing away with the misunderstanding and differences among themselves. During the meeting, NC and UML also expressed dissatisfaction with the Maoists for portraying them as anti-federalists.

CPN-Maoist 'vice president' C.P Gajurel accused the UCPN-Maoist's Pushpa Kumar Dahal aka Prachanda led FDRA of working at the behest of anti-nationalist force and foreign power.

CPN-UML has criticized the present Baburam Bhattarai led Government as a "complete failure" and termed its various works and activities as "mockery of rule of law". The party also accused the government of "plundering state coffer" and going against national interest.

August 27: Kaski District committee of UCPN-M has admitted taking "donations" from the contractor involved in construction of international airport in Pokhara. UCPN-Maoist Kaski in charge Jhalakpani Tiwari said that on behalf of his party he took donations from the contractor.

AISC has decided to resume the stalled integration of former Maoist combatants from September 6. UCPN-Maoist 'chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said he was encouraged by the resumption of talks with the NC and the CPN-UML on August 26 and that he was confident of a political outlet soon.

August 28: CPN-Maoist 'vice chairman' CP Gajurel said that there was no possibility of unification between his party and the UCPN-Maoist.

August 29: The three major political parties namely, UCPN-Maoist, NC and CPN-UML have on decided to intensify meetings and discussions among themselves to end the current political and constitutional crisis facing the country.

Three major parties - the UCPN-M, NC, and CPN-UML - met and agreed to intensify their dialogue to find an agreement. The meeting decided to delegate the responsibility of arriving at a deal to the top leaders.

Khimlal Devkota, a UCPN-M leader claimed that the opposition had run out of options. "They kept prodding the president to do something but the constitution does not allow it.

AISC for Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist combatants resolved the remaining contentious issues of integration. Disputes over age and educational qualifications had stalled the process of selection of 3100 remaining combatants in cantonments into the NA.

UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that the parties should be ready to go to the polls if they failed to agree on the key issues of the constitution in negotiations taking place in the next few days. Dahal said this while speaking at an interaction organised by Former Lawmakers Forum in Kathmandu.

August 30: TVOS objected to the decision to submit the TRC Ordinance 2069 and the Commission for Investigation on Forced Disappearances Ordinance 2069 to the President. The Society objected saying the Government had unilaterally submitted the bills neglecting the earlier bills tabled in the parliament after holding discussions with stakeholders.

United Nations Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator Rober Piper said that the ordinance on establishing the commission to investigate the war-era human rights abuses, which has been forwarded to the President by the Government, could "severely undermine access to justice for victims".

September 2: NC has decided to boycott the interaction programme scheduled to be organised on September 4 in Kathmandu by the FDRA, led by UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda. NC's CWC meeting held at party headquarters in Sanepa (Kathmandu) took the decision. FDRA has prepared to hold the interaction among all the political stakeholders including civil society members in a bid to find possible way outs to the existing political deadlock facing the country.

September 3: UCPN-Maoist 'chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and CPN-Maoist-Baidya 'chairperson' Mohan Baidya agreed to share the property of the party between the two parties. A meeting of the taskforce formed for resolving the dispute over the ownership of party property Monday morning took the decision to this effect. According to the agreement, the party property will be shared based on strength of the respective parties from center to District level.

CPN-Maoist-Baidya is likely to hand over a 70-point demand to the Government as it prepares to take to the streets. According to CPN-Maoist 'vice chairman' C.P Gajurel, the party is going to add 30 demands to the 40 points the former Maoist party had presented to the then Government headed by Sher Bahadur Deuba before launching the insurgency in 1996.

September 4: Opposition parties including the NC, CPN-Maoist-Mohan Baidya and CPN-UML boycotted the all-party interaction organised by UCPN-Maoist led FDRA. Next FDRA meet is set to be on September 6.

September 5: CPN-Maoist-Baidya 'chairman' Mohan Baidya said that his party was going to present a 70-point demand before launching a peaceful protest movement to make it to power. He further warned that his party would take up arms if the demands were not addressed.

NC rejected the UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kumar Dahal's proposal to reinstate the dissolved CA.

September 6: USA has removed the UCPN-M from its global terrorist organisations list, stating that the party has demonstrated a credible commitment to pursuing the peace and reconciliation process in Nepal.

CPN-UML published a 'white paper' on the failure of the CA to promulgate the new constitution, mainly blaming the UCPN-M and the Madhesi Front for the CA's termination. CPN-UML also cited reasons such as 'over-expectation' from the CA, agreements signed outside of the CA and the activities of different pressure groups within the CA for the constitutional fiasco.

Former UCPN-M combatants led by deputy battalion commander Bhaktaraj Thapa who have chosen voluntary retirement submitted letter of memorandum to AISC putting forward various demands.

September 7: Chief Secretary Lila Mani Paudel said that political instability was stifling the efforts to boost the morale of civil servants and make service delivery effective. 666 former combatants of the UCPN-M have filled forms for their integration into Nepali Army in all cantonments.

September 8: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai threatened to take "stern step" if President, Ram Baran Yadav rejected the ordinances presented to him by the Government for certification.

September 10: CPN-Maoist-Mohan Baidya submitted a memorandum with the list of 70 demands to the Government. A delegation led by CPN-Maoist-Mohan Baidya's 'vice chairman' C.P Gajurel handed over the memorandum to Prime Minster Baburam Bhattarai at his office.

September 11: NC President Sushil Koirala accused the UCPN-Maoist of trying to stage "constitutional coup" to remain in power. Koirala said the attempt to forcefully introduce ordinances is a move towards "constitutional coup". He made it clear that no amendment in the interim Constitution was possible without consensus.

September 12: Top leaders of the UCPN-M and the NC agreed to go for elections if the parties do not reach consensus by the end of Bhadra (August to September).

CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal claimed that the UCPN-M should be squarely blamed for the current political deadlock as they have not shown interest in resolving the crisis.

September 15: Organization Department Chief of the UCPN-M Krishna Bahadur Mahara said that there is no alternative for the political parties other than agreeing on identity-based federalism to end the current political deadlock. He also stressed on the need for a constitution that guarantees federalism in order to ensure the rights of the people.

UCPN-M has postponed the national conventions of its sister organisations owing to dispute between factions loyal to party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and Prime Minister and vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai.

NC vice president Ram Chandra Poudel told that major parties had agreed to carve out multi-ethnic provinces on May 15 and that they should hold onto that understanding. According to Poudel, the NC also decided to intensify talks with other parties including the UCPN-Maoist for a consensus. He said the NC and the CPN-UML would form a common view before sitting with the Maoists.

September 17: The former UCPN-M combatants appeared for written examination to further qualify themselves for integration into NA.

A group of students close to the UCPN-M vandalized two schools in Kanchanpur District.

September 18: Top leaders of the three major political forces- UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and UDMF have begun a meeting expected to be decisive in resolving the current political and constitutional deadlock in the country.

September 19: The major four political forces UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and UDMF decided to go for fresh CA election as they failed to agree on reinstatement of the dissolved CA.

September 20: Political forces have begun fight among them over who should lead the new Government that will hold the elections by next April. The ruling UCPN-M and Madhesh-based parties are now averse to the idea of NC leadership of a new Government as per the five-point deal reached before the dissolution of the CA on May 27, 2012.

The CPN-Maoist, Baidya condemned the major political parties' decision to go for fresh CA elections.

September 21: Major political forces agreed to seek a package deal on all issues related to holding fresh CA elections, including the formation of a national unity Government. However, the UCPN-M rejected the CPN-UML proposal to form a NC led Government.

NC meeting concluded that various dissenting parties including the CPN-Maoist Baidya and MPRF-N need to be made part of all negotiations that are aimed at resolving the current political deadlock.

September 24: A meeting of the various 13 opposition political parties including the NC, CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist- Baidya, held at the call of NC at its headquarters decided to launch stringent protests to oust the Baburam Bhattarai-led Government.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that the possibility of the formation of a new Government under the leadership of NC is slim.

Altogether 1,388 former Maoist combatants are set to join the NA as soldiers by passing all exams and tests.

September 25: The politburo meeting of Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist- Baidya has decided to adopt all possible means to intensify the protest against the current Government.

CPN-Maoist- Baidya vice-chairman C P Gajurel said that it would not take more than a month for the opposition parties to topple the present Government. "Our protests will be such that the Government will not survive another month, "said Gajurel.

September 26: Tourism minister and UCPN-M secretary Post Bahadur Bogati said his party was not ready to give Government leadership to the NC until the thorny issues of the new constitution were resolved.

A meeting of five opposition parties discussed the program of protests to be launched soon with the aim of unseating the present Government. Leaders of the NC, CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist- Baidya, RPP and NMSP attended the meeting.

The probe commission for investigating financial irregularities among UCPN-M party leaders extended its term a second time, till 19 October, 2012. Earlier, the commission, headed by Amik Sherchan, was extended for one month.

CPN-Maoist-Baidya group threatened to prohibit the screening of Hindi movies and the entry into the country of road vehicles with Indian number plates, from September 27.

September 27: Allaying concerns raised from various quarters, the newly-formed CPN-Maoist said they do not have any immediate plans to launch an armed insurgency.

September 28: Cadres of CPN-Maoist, Baidya vandalized the Janajagriti Higher Secondary School at Pithuwa in Chitwan District for running classes in defiance of the shutdown they had imposed in the district.

October 2: Former PLA combatants who were discharged in February 2010 after being disqualified in the verification carried out by the then UNMIN have enforced bandh in mid-western region.

CPN-UML Vice-chairperson Ashok Rai said that the party dissident leaders will quit the party on October 4.

October 3: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai reiterated that he would not step down claiming that his resignation would invite further crisis in the country.

CPN-UML politburo member Pradeep Gyawali said that President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav would not be able to do anything to form the new Government as he has no right to appoint and remove the Prime Minister.

ANNISU-R aligned with Maoist Baidya asked students to be ready to for another armed revolt against capitulationism and neo-revisionism of UCPN-M leadership if necessary.

The chiefs of UCPN-M state committees concluded that the Maoist strongholds during the insurgency have been the hardest hit after the party split a few months ago.

Altogether 71 former Maoist combatants have passed the test for recruitment in the NA as officers.

October 4: A group of noted dissident leaders, including party Vice-Chairman Ashok Rai, quit CPN-UML. Ashok Rai announced the names of 47 central-level leaders. He said at least 517 leading CPN-UML members from 61 Districts quit the party alone.

CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal said his party is now ready to wage nationwide protests and demonstrations to pull down the current Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist UCPN-M led Government in order to pave the way for a national consensus Government.

The AISC has decided to provide opportunity for the former PLA commanders, who have failed in officer level test, to join the NA in the junior ranks.

Dahal intensified parleys with the leaders in the opposition bloc following his meeting with President Ram Baran Yadav.

October 5: UCPN-M and NC remain in dispute yet again after UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda reiterated during his meeting with NC President Sushil Koirala that the former will not accept NC´s leading the election Government saying that the political context has changed.

CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal said that removal of the UCPN-M led coalition Government was essential to end current political deadlock facing the country.

CPN-UML said the party has launched nationwide protests "to end the Government-promoted communal violence and the Government's authoritarian rule."

CPN-UML leaders claimed that the party would not be affected at all despite scores of dissident leaders quitting the party.

October 6: UCPN-M politburo member Ram Karki said that PM Baburam Bhattarai is expected to announce his resignation in the next two weeks.

October 8: The UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda at a meeting with NC leaders floated a proposal to reinstate the dissolved CA. NC leaders responded to Dahal´s proposal saying that they want to hold further discussions before taking a final decision.

UCPN-M reiterated that Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai will not put in his papers until major political parties reach a 'package deal' on all contentious issues.

October 10: Mohan Baidya Chairman CPN-Maoist, Baidya warned of declaring ethnic federal states from the street strongly objecting to the major political parties' informal understanding to go for the fresh CA polls.

UCPN-M decided to restructure the party organization into six tiers to be run by collective leadership.

October 11: UCPN-M and NC cadres clashed in Sindhulimadi in Sindhudi District. Confrontation ensued while the NC cadres were staging a demonstration in protest against the manhandling of Taraun Dal central committee member Nabaraj Shrestha by UCPN-M cadres.

CPN-Maoist, Baidya revoked its 'ban' on foreign movies in view of the upcoming festivals.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal proposed to CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal to be ready to promulgate a new constitution while deferring the unresolved issues for the new parliament. Though, Khanal described the proposal as a positive idea he downplayed it.

October 12: PM Baburam Bhattarai's political advisor Devendra Poudel has claimed that the CA will be revived before Tihar Festival. Contrarily, CPN-UML vice chairperson Bidhya Bhandari said the CPN-UML was determined to foil the CA reinstatement bid, saying that it is a ''conspiracy'' to push the country further back.

NYPV, the youth wing of the CPN-Maoist, Baidya has decided to form teams of youths in every village and city across the country and also mobilize such teams in all sectors, such as education and industry, to stop cultural and economic irregularities.

October 13: CPN-UML warned its former CA members against speaking in favour of reinstatement of the dissolved assembly.

October 15: UCPN-M chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that the dissolved CA will be revived before Tihar (Festival), which falls on the second week of November.

CPN-Maoist-Baidya Secretary, Dev Prasad Gurung has said that the president's call to the political parties to forge consensus was a positive move.

CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel said that the new election would be like a referendum as it would help decide some crucial political issues through people´s mandate.

October 16: Secretary of CPN-Maoist-Baidya, Dev Gurung claimed that the country would not find its way out of its current political crisis until the three major political parties and Madheshi front do away with their autocratic mind-set.

October 17: UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that sooner or later major political parties will agree to reinstate the dissolved CA.

Meanwhile, NC and CPN-UML in meeting concluded that holding of fresh elections has become imperative and that forming a new election Government should be the first step toward it.

Further, they also decided to launch joint protest against the UCPN-M led Government immediately after Dashain.

CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel has remarked that the reinstatement of CA will amount to contempt of court.

October 18: UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda proposed holding elections for a new president along with a fresh CA poll.

October 19: CPN-UML leader and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal warned against any agreement between the UCPN-M and NC on forming a new Government bypassing his party.

October 20: Local leaders of the UCPN-M in Palpa have allegedly threatened the journalists at Radio Paschimanchal demanding that they shut the station immediately.

October 21: UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that the party would take an initiative to break the constitutional and political deadlock afflicting the political spectrum in the country.

October 22: Over eighty CPN-UML cadres left the party en masse in Hong Kong (Singapore).

CPN-Maoist-Baidya chairman Mohan Baidya ruled out any possibility of a new Government under parties including NC and, instead, put forth party General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa's name for the post of next prime minister.

CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal directed the party cadres to gear up for a peaceful agitation; the party has planned after the Dashain and Tihar to pile pressure for national consensus.

October 25: UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal called on President Ram Baran Yadav to discuss the present political scenario. He told the Head of State that his party is open on all options to resolve the political crisis and forge national consensus.

NC vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel has charged the UCPN-M itself of being a hindrance to consensus. He said the UCPN-M could not be trusted as its chairman changes his words oftentimes.

Senior leader of CPN-UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal, has said that the president should play a role in appointing a new Prime Minister.

October 28: Leaders from NC and CPN-UML decided to reject the UCPN-M proposal on ending the political stalemate and vowed to intensify joint agitation against the present coalition after Tihar (Religious festivals).

The UCPN-M made important decisions regarding the issues relating to the political consensus in its upcoming general convention and party transformation.

President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav advised both NC and CPN-UML leadership to forge consensus and end the current political stalemate before the Tihar festival.

October 29: UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal who has been pressing hard lately for the revival of the CA, said that his party might agree to holding new CA polls if all the political parties were of one view.

CPN-Maoist-Baidya has formally announced the party´s General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa as their candidate for the post of new prime minister.

October 30: The four major political forces UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and UDMF handed over responsibility to their respective top leaders to seek consensus on all contentious issues within the next four days.

October 31: UCPN-M spokesperson Agni Sapkota said that the Baburam Bhattarai Government will remain in place, given the absence of the parliament to elect the new PM.

CPN-Maoist-Baidya has named a combination of political, bureaucratic and ´comprador´ capitalist elements ´protected and guided by Indian expansionists´ as its principal enemy.

November 2: Top leaders of the four major political UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and UDMF assured President Dr Ram Baran Yadav that they would soon reach consensus on holding fresh CA polls.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal on behalf of the ruling coalition has asked the opposition parties to offer a prime ministerial candidate from the NC in writing. NC and CPN-UML leaders argued that they were not obliged to submit the name of the candidate to Dahal.

UCPN-M has decided to single-handedly bring full-fledged budget within mid-November if major political parties fail to arrive at a consensus for the same.

November 4: NC and CPN-UML leaders said a conspiracy is being hatched to drag President Ram Baran Yadav into controversy.

November 5: CWC meeting of CPN-Maoist-Baidya endorsed the proposal of party Chairman Mohan Baidya on the formation of "armed force" when deemed necessary in future" even as almost all CWC members exerted pressure on the party leadership to form immediately the party´s own "army."

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has cautioned ministers and leaders from the ruling parties against making "irresponsible remarks" against President Ram Baran Yadav.

President Ram Baran Yadav and CPN-UML chief Jhalanath Khanal discussed the Government's plan to bring the budget through an ordinance.

November 6: Newly formed CPN-Maoist-Baidya has opposed the decision saying the CA elected through fresh polls cannot guarantee a pro-people constitution.

November 7: A taskforce of opposition political parties-NC, CPN-UML worked on the draft outlines of a letter to be submitted to President Ram Baran Yadav requesting him not to approve an ordinance that the Government is planning to forward to the head of state for bringing a new annual budget by mid-November.

November 8: A meeting between the UCPN-M and NC leaders held ended without any sign of consensus on finding a way out of the protracted deadlock anytime soon.

November 9: President Ram Baran Yadav urged UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal to take concrete and result-oriented initiatives to settle the budget row and the political impasse.

While maintaining that fresh election was his party´s ´roadmap´ to end the current political deadlock, NC President Sushil Koirala challenged the ruling UCPN-M to compete with them in the elections.

CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal urged the President not to be intimidated by the 'threats' issued by the UCPN-M.

November 12: UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal NC and CPN-UML did not want to join Baburam Bhattarai-led Government even as he pledged NC the Home Ministry and CPN-UML the Finance Ministry.

NC president Sushil Koirala said the opposition's movement would eventually thwart ambitions of the UCPN-M to impose ´totalitarian rule´ in the country´.

Meeting of the top leaders of the three major parties - UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML - on the budget ended inconclusively.

November 14: UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that the ruling coalition was determined to introduce budget even if there is no consensus between the major parties.

CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal has accused the present Government of being the main hindrance in forging consensus among the political parties.

November 15: PM Baburam Bhattarai said that the parties would arrive at a consensus on disputed issues in the second week of Mangsir (3rd week of November).

Senior leader of the CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal opined that time has come for the head of the state Dr Ram Baran Yadav to play a significant role to topple the incumbent Government.

November 16: The first phase agitation by 15 parties including the main opposition parties NC and CPN-UML will begin from November 18.

UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal met NC president Sushil Koirala as part of his ongoing efforts to convince the opposition parties to allow the Government to present the budge. However, Koirala gave him no assurance over the budget.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal said major parties' failure to seek consensus within one or two weeks from now will lead the country to a "serious political mishap."

PM Baburam Bhattarai and Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun called on President Ram Baran Yadav to discuss the budget ordinance issue.

November 18: Preparations made by the NA to begin training for former PLA combatants from next week is likely to be affected by the delay in deciding on a new structure in the Army for the former fighters and determination of their ranks.

November 19: A meeting of top leaders of the UCPN-M, NC, and CPN-UML held to forge consensus on the budget and fresh elections ended inconclusively after the ruling UCPN-M refused outright to quit the Government.

Group of leaders, including former Vice-chairman Ashok Rai, who had quit CPN-UML demanding single ethnic identity based federalism, finally decided to announce a new party on November 22. Rai would lead the new party to be named as Federal Democratic Socialist Party.

November 21: Personnel of the PLA, who have been selected for integration into the NA, formally joined the national Army. Their training will start by November 25 at eight different locations.

A meeting of the Special Committee (for supervision‚ integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants) decided to ask the Government to create 4,171 new vacancies in the NA for the purpose of accommodating former PLA combatants.

November 22: UCPN-M decided to take the initiative to forge consensus among political parties.

A group of leaders from the ethnic and indigenous communities formed a new party, FSPN, with former CPN-UML vice-chairman Ashok Rai as its chairman.

November 23: President Ram Baran Yadav´s deadline has divided the political forces. While UCPN-M lambasted the head of state, the opposition parties have welcomed the move.

Mohan Baidya, Chairman CPN-Maoist-Baidya said that the latest move by the President won't solve the political impasse.

November 27: The ruling UCPN-M decided to convert the present Baburam Bhattarai-led Government into a National consensus Government.

UCPN-M proposed a new unity Government offering political rivals the pick of the top cabinet posts in a bid to end the deadlock.

CPN-UML reiterated that it won´t accept UCPN-M leading the new Government.

November 28: Nearly a dozen cadres of the opposition parties were injured in Police action during their protest against PM Baburam Bhattarai in Baglung Bazaar at Baglung District.

NC and CPN-UML leaders have agreed to urge the Head of the State to extend his seven-day deadline to form a Government of national consensus.

November 29: Chairman of UCPN-M Pushpa Kamal Dahal said NC vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel that the latter's party should not hope to get the leadership of the new Government without first forging consensus on disputed issues of new constitution.

Hundreds of 'disqualified' PLA fighters have been laying siege to UCPN-M headquarters in Paris Danda (Okhaldhunga District) and Koteshwor (Kathmandu District), since November 28, demanding that the party address their concerns at the earliest.

November 30: Expressing serious objection over President Ram Baran Yadav not including the CPN-Maoist-Baidya in the meetings of major political parties, the party warned that it would not accept any decision that the four major political parties will take.

CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal has accused the current Government of being the main obstacle in forming a new Government.

December 2: NC and CPN-Maoist, Baidya made it clear that they will not join Baburam Bhattarai Government, as vaguely suggested by President Ram Baran Yadav.

CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said that consensus Government is not possible under the leadership of PM Bhattarai.

UCPN-M party claimed that the incumbent Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai would be leading the next Government of national consensus.

December 3: UCPN-M Dhading district committee member, Bijay Tamang, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Gumdi VDC of Dhading District.

A former UCPN-M activist was murdered by unidentified assailants following his abduction from his home in Dhading District

PM Baburam Bhattarai met NC president Sushil Koirala and assured that he was ready to pave the way if the parties arrived at consensus.

CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said that his party was ready to name a candidate for Prime Ministership if NC fails to propose its candidate soon. 

December 4: Three major political parties-UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML agreed to reach a package deal to end the present crisis by December 6.

Chairman of the UCPN-M Pushpa Kamal Dahal reiterated that his party would not compromise on the agenda of change.

Government decided to withdraw various cases lodged against the Maoists leaders and cadres during the decade-long insurgency.

December 5: The ruling UCPN-M maintained that it would accept NC leadership in consensus Government only if the main opposition agrees to settle outstanding issues in a package deal.

CPN-Maoist-Baidya vice chairman C.P Gajurel said that fresh CA elections are not possible by mid-May.

December 6: A meeting of the four major political forces -UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and UDMF - to forge consensus ended inconclusively as the parties remained adamant on their respective stance.

At least two dozen ‘disqualified’ combatants were injured when police disrupted a torch rally organized by them at UCPN-M officein Kathmandu.

PLA fighters, who have been picketing the UCPN-M party headquarters for the last few days presenting their eight-point demand, revealed further protest plans and have even threatened to target political leaders if they remain indifferent to their demands.

Unverified PLA fighters, who have been picketing the UCPN-M party headquarters for the last few days presenting their eight-point demand, revealed further protest plans and have even threatened to target political leaders if they remain indifferent to their demands.

December 7: Members of the Discharged PLA Nepal picketed the offices of the different political parties citing that their demands were not met.

The meeting of the taskforce comprising NC, CPN-UML and RPP decided not to hit the streets until mid-December in view of ongoing efforts to form a consensus Government.

December 8: UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said there was no alternative for parties to the 12-point agreement but to work together once again or else the country would plunge into disaster.

December 9: General Secretary of CPN-UML CP Mainali proposed that referendum could be an alternative to navigate the present crisis if the parties failed to forge a consensus before the latest deadline set by the President.

December 10:  CPN-Maoist, Baidya faction Secretary Dev Gurung said that scrapping of the announcement of fresh election to the CA by the President is the best solution to the present political crisis in the country.

December 11: A day before expiry of the president´s deadline to the parties to pick a consensus prime ministerial candidate, the ruling UCPN-M authorized party office bearers with holding talks with opposition parties to forge consensus on the prime ministerial candidate.

December 12: UCPN-M and UDMF reiterated their earlier stand to leave the Government only after agreement on package with the opposition parties.

UCPN-M claiming that it is ready to accept a NC-led Government if the Baburam Bhattarai-led Government is allowed to amend the constitution fix the date of fresh polls and make constitutional appointments.

December 13: NC President Sushil Koirala said that there will be consensus within five days if UCPN-M does not create hurdles. Koirala also asked UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda to be honest in politics.

December 14: In a move that marks the closure of the integration of PLA commanders, the Prime Minister-led Special Committee gave the go-ahead to the Government to establish a general directorate in the Nepal Army.

Latest draft proposal discussed at the cross-party special committee shows that the highest position the PLA commanders will get is major.

General directorate strength will be 4171; will be comprised of 2711 personnel from different security agencies and 1460 former PLA commanders. 

December 16: UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed confidence that the political parties will strike a deal to pave the way for a national unity government by December 17.

NC senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that his party could accept UCPN-M''s latest proposal to form Unity Government, If the Maoists keep their word.

December 18: CPN-Maoist-Baidya chairman Mohan Baidya said his party would not accept NC President Sushil Koirala as Prime Minister of consensus Government.

December 19: UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Vice-chairman and PM Baburam Bhattarai, the latter boycotted a party office-bearers´ meeting that was supposed to decide the official party position on whether or not to quit Government.

December 23: UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal urged the leaders of parties that comprise FDRA to become flexible to find common prime ministerial candidate even from outside the Alliance.