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.

The meeting between the top brass leaders of the major political parties was put off for second time after the leaders failed make headway on the forms of governance. The meeting held at the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction dwelt on the report prepared by a taskforce, Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal informed after the meeting. He, however, added that the meeting would continue on January 3 as well.

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.

The Constitutional Committee decided to amend the constitution-drafting-calendar by extending the January 5 deadline to January 29 for completing the discussions on a report submitted by the dispute-resolution-sub-committee to resolve the contentious issues, mainly the form of the Governance.

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 January 5 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.

Nepal Army's (NA) bomb disposal team defused three explosives placed by an extremist group at Rajha Chowk along the Nepalgunj-Kohalpur road. The flag placed adjacent to the bomb suggests it to be the handiwork of Terai Janatantrik Madhesh Mukti Morcha (TJMMM) and a leaflet with its 'commander' Bharat Singh's signature has been recovered from the area.

Major opposition parties - the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML slammed the Government for slow implementation of the seven-point agreement signed on November 1 about pushing the peace and constitution-writing processes ahead.

Venting frustration on the Government and its failing report card, Madheshi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal (MJF-N) led by Upendra Yadav decided to withdraw its support to the Government coalition.

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.

NC vice president, Ram Chandra Poudel said that the alliance of 16 parties is not meant against UCPN-M. Talking to reporters in Singha Durbar after the meeting of the 16 parties, Poudel said the alliance's aim is not to change the Government and neither does it want to sideline the Maoists.

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.

Life in various Districts of eastern Nepal been affected by the bandh called by Eastern Tharuwan Kochila State Joint Council (ETKSJC). The group had called for the strike demanding Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha and Udaypur Districts be declared as Tharuwan and Kochila State. The group has put forward demands, including right to self-determination to the six Districts and implementation of a six-point agreement reached with the Indigenous Nationalities, among others. A bandh was also called by the group on January 3.

A meeting of the Constitutional Committee held at Singha Durbar in a bid to endorse the decisions taken by the Dispute Resolution sub-committee on the contentious issues in the new constitution. However, UCPN-M chairman, Prachanda, who heads the dispute resolution sub-committee, did not show up in the meeting while CPN-UML chairman, Jhala Nath Khanal left the meeting early.

Nepal Army (NA) defused a pressure cooker found at home of a cadre of Khambuwan Rastriya Morcha Samyukta at Sangpang Village Development Committee-9 (VDC-9) in Bhojpur District.

Anil Kumar Yadav aka Devram (23), the Saptari District coordinator of Samyukta Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (SJTMM) announced his decision to come over ground. Yadav said he decided to come out in the public along with four home-made pistols in the context of the Morcha preparing to hold talks with the Government. The SJTMM is one of many Tarai-based outfits waging struggle against the State.

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.

The Government of China agreed to pledge USD 119 million grant assistance to Nepal for the physical infrastructure development of the country.

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.

NA defused five bombs planted at Manpur, Banke along the Nepalgunj-Gulariya road section. Leaflets and flags of JTMMM- Bhagat Singh were discovered at the site where explosive devices were fused to explode under specific conditions.

The CPN-UML formed a four-member 'task-force' headed by senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal to hold talks with other parties for timely conclusion of the peace process and the constitution-drafting.

The District Police office (DPO) arrested two persons belonging to JTMMM group with ammunition at Gadiyanpuruwa in Kamdi VDC-3 in Banke District. According to Police, the arrestees were identified as Dayaram Yadav (28) and Ram Das Yadav (26). Police found a socket bomb, two bullets of a pistol, two bullets of SLR and two rolls of electric wire from the arrested duo.

Meanwhile, leaders of the main opposition parties-- NC and CPN-UML-- walked out of a meeting called by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai to discuss issues related to the peace process and constitution-drafting. They walked out of the meeting protesting against the recent cabinet decisionto give legal-status to the land transactions approved by the "people's government" established by the Maoists during insurgency.

Separately, the Government has allocated over NPR 1.97 billion as the first instalment for the Maoist combatants who have chosen voluntary retirement.

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 Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (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.

The United Kingdom has agreed to provide NPR 2.5 billion (20 million Pound Sterling) to Nepal Peace Trust Fund (NPTF) to support the ongoing peace process.

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.

The opposition parties NC and CPN-UML said they will continue with their protest programs including planned boycott of House session until the Government scraps its recent decision to legalize land and property transactions carried out by parallel governments (called "people's government") run by the UCPN-M party during the decade-long insurgency.

A meeting of the Constitutional Committee (CC) failed to arrive at any agreement with UCPN-M faction remaining adamant on incorporating a provision for mandatory military training to citizens above 18 years in the new constitution.

The political advisor of Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Devendra Poudel, said that the national consensus Government is not likely to be formed in the present scenario.

The Government will put on hold its controversial decision to legalize property transactions carried out by the Maoist´s "people´s government" during the insurgency period. The Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattarai, has made up his mind to put on hold his Government´s controversial decision that has led to obstruction in parliament by 17 parties demanding its revocation. The source said the Government will not revoke the cabinet decision but will simply send it to the cold freezer, never to be implemented again.

Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattarai, and speaker, Subas Nemwang met to discuss possible ways to address the demands of the opposition parties for resuming the meeting of the parliament. Seventeen political parties represented in the parliament including NC and CPN-UML have decided to continue obstruction in the House until the Government revokes its decision of legitimizing the transfer of ownership, use and transaction of the lands recognized by the then 'people's government' of the Maoist party.

The NC president Sushil Koirala launched a more outspoken broadside against the Maoists, saying the former rebels cannot be trusted anymore and that it won't make any difference to his party if they return to the jungle.

The opposition parties continued with parliament obstruction for the third consecutive day on January 22 against the Government's controversial decision to legalize the land transactions done under the arbitration of the erstwhile Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist's (UCPN-M) 'people's government' during the decade-long insurgency.

Senior leader of NC, Sher Bahadur Deuba accused Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai of airing an 'anti-national' statement. He slammed Prime Minister Bhattarai over his statement which says, "Unless we maintain equidistance between China and India, we will be compelled to cede our territory to one of the countries."

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.

The bomb disposal unit of Nepal Army (NA) has defused a time-bomb placed at Chirauli Chok of Bhokraha Village Development Council (VDC-9) in Sunsari District. Pamphlets of Janatantrik Tarai Madhes Mukti Morcha (JTMMM) and its flags were recovered from the site.

Separately, top leaders of the big three political parties met at Nepali Congress vice-chairman, Ram Chandra Poudel's residence to discuss possible solutions to the current political deadlock, The leaders could not arrive at any understanding, but agreed to continue dialogue.

An IED planted inside a passenger bus by militant outfit went off in Tulsipur of Dang District in the morning. However, there were no casualties or any serious injuries in the incident. Police said that they have found leaflets of JTMMM, an outfit active in Terai area, inside the bus.

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.

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.

A cabinet meeting decided to extend the term of the State Restructuring Commission (SRC) by one week.

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.

The Government registered an appeal against the Supreme Court administration's refusal to review its earlier decision of November 25 that put a final six-month cap on the extension of the CA tenure. The application filed by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has cited three major precedents which show that the court can review even final decisions of its full bench.

Signs of a major rift in the SRC have surfaced, with two main opposition parties warning that they will not accept a report of the SRC due next week. . The parties,--Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML leaders issued the warning after some of their representatives in the SRC complained that the members representing the Maoist and the Madheshi parties were taking decisions "unilaterally".

Samyukta Tarai Janatantrik Mukti Morcha -- Azad (STJMM-A) group has asked the Government to meet its 11-point demands. The group's head Udaykant Mishra aka Azad made the demand. The demands of the group include declaring Tarai as reserved state, 50 per cent position at Government bodies allotted to Madheshi, compensation to the people dying in the movements, withdrawal of criminal cases against its cadres and integration of its military in Nepal Army.

Speaker Subas Nemwang filed a separate petition at Supreme Court (challenging court's refusal to register a petition seeking review on the SC's decision regarding the term of the CA. In his petition, Speaker Nemwang has also urged the court to hear the petition by a five-member full bench of the judges. The CA term extended for the 4th time will expire on May 28.The SC had refused to register the petition citing insufficient legal bases.

The CC has requested the CA to extend the deadline for forging consensus on disputed constitutional issues till February 12, The thematic committee responsible for preparing the first draft of the constitution unanimously took this decision.

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.

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

The Supreme Court stayed the Government's decision to legalise the land deals arbitrated by UCPN-M cadres during the insurgency, until next order. Acting on a writ petition filed by Democratic Lawyers' Association, a Supreme Court full bench comprising justices Damodar Prasad Sharma, Kalyan Shrestha and Tahir Ali Anasari decided to give continuity to a January 25 stay order issued by Chief Justice, Khil Raj Regmi. With this fresh stay order, the decision will not be implemented until the court gives a final decision on the writ petition.

SRC submitted its report to the Government, proposing an 11-State federal model based on ethnicity and language. However, the SRC could not reach consensus on its recommendation with three members contesting the report of the majority of the members.

Samyukta Madheshi Mukti Morcha (SMMM) detonated a bomb at KP Store belonging to Kul Prasad Kandel (35) at Radha Krishna Chowk of Gulariya Municipality-8 in Bardiya District. The explosion caused minor damage to the counter and property worth NPR 35,000 was damaged in the blast, proprietor Kandel said, adding that no human casualty occurred as the bomb went off during night.

CPN-UML Vice-Chairman, Bidya Devi Bhandari, said that the party would not accept ethnic federalism with special rights for ethnic groups with identity. Claiming that fresh conflict would surface in the country due to the establishment of ethnicity-based federalism, Bhandari said, "The country will head towards ethnic war if the concerned authority fails to use its brain on time."

Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattarai, is all set to hand over the report of SRC to CA Chairman Subas Nembang. The CA plans three-day deliberations on the disputed report which recommends ethnicity based 11 States on the basis of majority.

Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattarai, said he would immediately issue directives to the NA to begin the process of integrating the former Maoist combatants. Addressing an all-party meeting called by three major parties, Bhattarai said there was no alternative to taking the peace and constitution-writing process forward. "Work to bid farewell to retiring fighters will start from February 3. I will direct the N.A today to start the integration process," he said.

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.

A court in the State of Bihar, India gave a clean to 11 Nepali Maoist leaders facing criminal cases of conspiracy and anti-India activities. The cases were pending in the District Court for nearly eight years. The cases were taken up following intervention by the Union Home Ministry.

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.

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.

The meeting of the CC has been postponed after the top leaders of the three major political parties opined to forge consensus in the contentious issues of the constitution writing at the three party meeting scheduled to be held this afternoon.

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.

The 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."

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-western 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.

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.

The strength of SF personnel has been increased from 25 to 100 in each of the cantonments for security of the officials involved in the voluntary retirement process, Maoist cadres and arms containers, according to sources. Police personnel who were earlier kept outside the cantonments have been called in for security.

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.

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 Opposition parties allowed parliament to resume after 23 days of obstruction. The resumption followed the Government's decision to backtrack from its decision to legalise conflict-era land transactions. Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai's declaration before the House thus renders the cabinet's January 12 decision nugatory.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A bomb disposal team of NA safely destroyed two pressure-cooker bombs placed on the Ghorahi-Tulsipur road section of the Dang District. Pamphlets of the underground outfit JTMMM were recovered from the scene.

Opposition parties, who said an integration plan prepared by NA was full of flaws, alleged that the Government had 'its intentions wrong' when it made public the NA-prepared scheme without discussing it at the Army Integration Special Committee. Mahat was of the view that out of 9,690 fighters opting for integration, hardly 4,000 were eligible for joining the army. "Many of them opted for integration under pressure from Maoist commanders. They will choose retirement if they are given a chance now," he said.

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.

The Supreme Court convicted Minister for Information and Communications JP Gupta on corruption charges. The apex court sentenced Minister Gupta to one-and-a-half years in jail and slapped a fine of NPR 8.4 million, holding him guilty of amassing property by misusing the power during his various stints as minister. A division bench of Justices Shusila Karki and Tarka Raj Bhatta announced the verdict on the case that was under consideration at the SC since November 8, 2007.

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 UCPN-M 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 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.

The MJF-G has suspended its Chairman Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta from the party. The Supreme Court on February 21 convicted Gupta also the Information and Communications Minister of corruption and sentenced him to jail. Gupta was handed down an 18-month jail term and slapped a fine of NPR 8.4 million for amassing wealth disproportionate to his income. The office bearers meeting held at party central office in Sankhamul under the chairmanship of joint secretary Raj Kishore Yadav this morning decided to suspend Gupta from the party."Gupta has been suspended after proven guilty," MJF-G Joint General Secretary Ahamad Sah informed.

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.

Close on the heels of JP Gupta´s imprisonment over corruption charge, the MPRF-R has called a meeting of its central committee to discuss its future strategies. "The meeting will discuss various issues, including the role of MPRF-R in the Government and the United Democratic Madheshi Front (UDMF)," said MPRF-R Vice-chairman Rajkishor Yadav, who is likely to be the acting chairman of the party.

The first day of the three-day eastern region bandh called by the Khas Chhetri Ekta Samaj has affected normal life in the eastern region. The bandh called with various demands including enlisting Khas Chhettri community as indigenous group and allocating special reservation quota to the community affected normal life in various Districts.

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.

An underground outfit, Bhagat Singh-led JTMMM, has agreed to join peaceful politics. The outfit pledged to renounce violence during a meeting with the Government talks team in Lumbini. The first round of talks signed a six-point agreement.

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 the NA. Dahal tabled the proposal as per the responsibility entrusted on him by a three-party meeting on February 24.

The Supreme Court scheduled initial hearing on petitions filed by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Speaker Subas Chandra Nembang challenging the December 27 rejection order of the apex court against reviewing the November 25 CA term extension verdict.

The UDMF has taken strong exception to the verdict of the Supreme Court that convicted J P Gupta, the chairman of MPRF-R of corruption terming it as yet another attack on the Madheshi movement.

Three persons were killed and seven others injured in an explosion outside the Nepal Oil Corporation's (NOC) central office at Babarmahal in Kathmandu, some 300 metres away from Singha Durbar. "It is understood that the Sumyukta Jatiya Mukti Morcha- Bishwokranti( SJMM-B) carried out the attack. Such bombs were used during the Maoist insurgency.

NC Vice President, Ram Chandra Poudel, said that it is doubtful that the UCPN-M chairman, Prachanda will be able to implement his proposal to vacate the PLA cantonments in three weeks. Poudel said that UCPN-M did not bring their promises into action in the past and that there is no point in trusting Dahal's new proposal.

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.

Senior leader of NC, Sher Bahadur Deuba, said that going to the election to get a fresh mandate of the people will be the only option left if new constitution is not drafted within the stipulated dead-line. He said that there exist great differences and rift among the parties regarding various aspects of the new constitution.

A bandh (general shutdown) called by Rastriya Jana Morcha (RJM) affected normal life in the six Districts - Rupandehi, Nawalparasi, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi, Kapilvastu. The RJM had called the bandh demanding annulment of federal structure, timely constitution and election at the local bodies.

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.

The cross-party committee has entrusted the NA or the Armed Police Force(APF) depending on whoever is close to the cantonments in question with the task of providing security to the vacated cantonments. Two satellite cantonments each from the First to Sixth Divisions of the Maoist army and a satellite cantonment from the Seventh Division will be closed within March 10, according to the Special Committee. deal on integration in the presence of members of the Special Committee.

A NA team has defused an IED at Tinghare of Bhorletar VDC-6. A local cattle-herder, Bahadur Bhujel first saw the bomb on February 29. He reported about it to the Police after finding a wire attached to the device at closer inspection, Chief Development Officer (CDO), Baburam Lamichhane informed.

The Police arrested member of Magarat State Committee of the UCPN-M) Jasram Budha, from Ghorahi in Dang District. Police seized 10 set detonator, 10 gelatin sticks and fuse wire he was carrying in the bag.

A meeting of the CC of the CA called to endorse the agreement reached on disputed issues seen in constitution drafting ended inconclusively. As the top leaders of the major three political parties--NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M-- demanded additional time to resolve the remaining disputed issues in the yet to be promulgated constitution, the meeting of the CC has been deferred until March 11.

President Ram Baran Yadav warned political parties not to 'play with the country's future' as the country was in a critical stage with no possibility of extending the term of the Constituent Assembly again. "The CA deadline is approaching fast and there is no possibility of extending its term again. So, the parties must best utilise the three remaining months," NC Vice-president, Ramchandra Paudel, quoted the President, as he emerged from a meeting with the President.

Two PLA combatants were taken into custody on the charge of timber smuggling. Assistant commander Bhim Bahadur KC and company commander Laxman Dhami of Ramji Smriti Brigade were held while they were taking away some 35 cubic feet timber from Udayapur Community Forest in eastern Chitwan. -The forest guards and local consumers took them under control and later handed over to the District Forest Office.

The much anticipated talks of three major political parties held today to discuss the integration of former Maoist combatants into the Nepal Army, disputed issues of constitution-writing and formation of commissions related to transitional justice ended inconclusively.

Kathmandu Police have made public the six people it had arrested after the bomb detonated at Babarmahal on February 27.The acused were paraded in the premises of Metropolice Police Office. These people are identified as Bhim Bahadur Tamang, NimaTamang, Buddhi Badhdur Gole, Prem Tamang, Suresh Lama and Sagar Lama. Three people were killed and seven injured the time bomb.

The Government of Nepal and JTMM-Jhawar Sah Pratap (JTMM-JSP) group have held a peace dialogue at the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction in which the both sides signed a six-point deal. In the deal, the group has pledged to be committed to peace and constitution and Government treating the group as a political one.

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.

Rastriya Janamorcha Nepal (RJN) has enforced a day-long bandh (general shutdown) in Dhaulagiri and Gandaki zones. The bandh called by RJN demanding timely constitution has adversely affected daily life in six districts in Gandaki and four districts in Lumbini zone.

Meanwhile, 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. However, a General close to the Army leadership said, "The prime minister's office kept on insisting on the proposal. So we had to rush to Baluwatar to present it without referring it to the Defence Ministry."

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.

The bomb disposal team of NA has defused 28 socket bombs found at the Dangpur Damauli in Motipur VDC-7 in Bardiya District. The locals had found the bomb buried under a tree at the Gobrela community forest of the Dangpur Damauli while they were collecting firewood A local Kaliram Tharu said that the bombs were kept in a plastic bag. Policemen had cordoned off the area after the locals informed them about the bombs.

In addition, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, said the Government is going to roll out 'special security plan' in view of the approaching deadline for the CA to draft the new constitution. Gachchhadar said the special security plan is being introduced in a week to tackle the security challenges in the next three months. He claimed that elements are actively working against the republican order and that they might try to incite turmoil in the upcoming months.

Janatantrik Terai Madheshi Mukti Morcha (JTMMM), an armed outfit has detonated a pressure-cooker bomb at a house belonging to Prem Dangi, a transport entrepreneur at Tikari of Tulsipur Municipality-8 .The blast, however, caused no human casualty and damage, the Tulsipur Area Police Office said, adding that a police team led by Inspector, Madan Kumar Thapa, had inspected the incident site before investigation. One Barud claiming himself district coordinator of JTMM has claimed responsibility for the blast.

The Prime Minister ,Baburam Bhattarai, directed Defence Minister, Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, and Finance Minister, Barsha Man Pun, to start within seven days the process of recruiting Madheshi youths in the NA. The Supreme Court had on December 26 issued an interim order asking the Government to halt the group-wise entry of the Madheshis in the Army. "The court has only stayed group-wise entry of Madheshi youths. As such, there will be no legal hurdles in going about the recruitment process on the basis of existing laws," leader of the Madheshi Janaadhikar Forum-Ganatantrik (MJF-G) Raj Kishore Yadav quoted Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai as saying in a meeting.

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.

Normal life in the far-western region has been affected by the bandh (general shutdown) called by Rastriya Jana Morcha (RJM). RJM called the strike demanding scrapping of federalism, promulgation of constitution within the deadline and election of local bodies. According to INSEC, offices, industries, markets, educational institutions remained shut in Kailali District due to the bandh. Police arrested two RJM cadres for being involved in the vandalism. Kanchanpur representative reports that Police arrested RJM cadres while they were enforcing bandh. Police arrested RJM regional vice-chairperson, Lokendra Lamsal; district vice-chairperson, Bidhyanath Adhikari, Purna Prasad Paudel of All Nepal Youth Association (ANYA) and District treasurer of Ethnic Convention Jeet Bahadur Thapa Magar. The bandh also disrupted normal life in Achham, Darchula, Baitadi and Dadeldhura Districts.

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 today to attend the programme in a helicopter.

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. Speaking at a talk program organised by the party's women's department of special coordination committee on the occasion of the International Women's Day in the capital, leader Nepal said the constitution could not be promulgated until the Maoist party was fully disarmed. If the constitution was promulgated without concluding peace process and the Maoists with fighters and arms, there won't be fair political competition in the next election, he argued.

The N C President, Sher Bahadur Deuba, has called for reviving the constitution of 1990 rather than continuing with the exercises to write the new constitution. Speaking in Biratnagar, Deuba said the 1990's constitution could be revived after omitting the provisions related to monarchy along with amendment to few other articles. "I don't mean the entire constitution should be revived. Some changes can be made along with omission of the term 'king'," said he.

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.

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.

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.

The leaders of three major political parties--NC, UCPN-M and CPN-UML during the meeting of the CC under the CA, vowed to ensure sustainable peace and timely constitution as today is the last date (as per the CA's revised works schedule) to forge consensus on remaining contentious issued affecting constitution drafting. They also decided to seek two more weeks from the CA to solve the disputed issues seen in forms of governance, electoral system, and judicial system, among others.

The meeting of the AISC today ended inconclusively after members representing the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML objected seriously to the PM Baburam Bhattarai's proposal on PLA integration. "There is no point agreeing to a proposal that is against the spirit of the seven-point peace deal," said Bhim Rawal, an AISC member representing the CPN-UML. "The seven-point deal doesn´t have any provision for promoting NA personnel immediately after they join the directorate," said Ram Sharan Mahat, AISC member from the NC.

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.

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.

An unknown group exploded a socket-bomb outside a school at Balaju in Kathmandu today. Police said the bomb that went off at around 8 pm smashed window panes of the ground floor of Pragati Higher Secondary School. However, no one was hurt in the incident.

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.

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. According to Angbuhang, Pun told the meeting that the party only has NPR 180 million to give to the YCL members. "We disagree with Pun´s statement. It will not solve the problem," said Angbuhang.

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. The opposition parties, however, said the issue of rank determination should be resolved as per the seven-point agreement signed on November 1, 2011.

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.

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.

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.

CPN-UML member, Khum Bahadur GC, 50, a resident of Manmateriya VDC-9 in Rupandehi District has been seriously injured when an unidentified person attacked him with an iron rod and batons on March 20.Khum bahadur was attacked when he was heading to his house from Gajedi VDC at Kataiya Chowk nearby his house.

Three persons including PLA platoon commander have been arrested in Sunsari District for their alleged involvement in dealing of arms from an Indian national.

The JTMMP detonated a bomb at the Naya Bus Park in Tulsipur Municipality-5 of Dang District. One person sustained minor injury in the incident.

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.

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.

The plan, outlining the criteria, standard norms and calendar of integration will be prepared by the AISC Secretariat and tabled in the next Special Committee meeting slated for March 27.

Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattarai 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.

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.

A squad of the NA has defused a bomb found nearby Bypass Road in Ramgram Municipality in Nawalparasi District. Locals, who were terrified after they noticed the bomb in front of Bal Govinda Petrol Pump, had immediately informed the Police. According to locals, a pamphlet of Madhesh Mukti Tiger (MMT) was recovered from the incident site.

Subash Chandra Singh, a member of the talk-team formed by the armed outfit, JTMMP to hold dialogue with the Government, has said that the group would not handover its arms until the dialogue reached a conclusion. Singh informed that more than 500 JTMMP cadres were in various jails across the country.

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)."

The CA started discussion on the report submitted by the SRC. The CA chair presented the SRC report, which recommends a 11-State-federal model, for discussion. The model proposed by the SRC includes Limbuwan, Kirat, Tamsaling, Newa, Tamuwan, Narayani and Magarat States including Mithila-Bhojpura-Koch Madhesh (in eastern Terai), Lumbini-Avath-Tharuwan (in western Terai) and a non-territorial Dalit States.

Amidst serious threat of a vertical split in the UCPN-M party, the meeting of the UCPN- M CC slated for today in Kathmandu was put off for the second time in a conciliatory move toward the faction led by Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya.

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.

The establishment side of the UCPN-M accused the Baidya-led faction of the party of selling the party-seized land to pocket commission in Dang.

The Baidya faction 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.

The CC meeting of the UCPN-M took place at party headquarters in Kathmandu. The establishment faction of Maoist led by Prachanda and PM Bhattarai hold 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.

The SC said that it will not review its previous verdict regarding the CA term.

The bomb-disposal team of the NA defused an IED planted at the Land Revenue Office (LRO) based in Bhashi of Bhimdatta Municipality-3 in Kanchanpur District. No outfit claimed responsibility for planting the bomb.

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 three major parties -- UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML-- 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.

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.

The Traffic Police office in Jaleswhar Municipal-5 in Mahottari District was damaged in a powerful bomb explosion at 2:30 am. However, no casualties have been reported in the incident. No person or group has yet owned up responsibility for the blast.

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.

Top leaders of political parties agreed on April 1 to remove the list of non-pardonable crimes of the proposed TRC bill. Section 25 of the bill listed various crimes - murder in captivity, murder of an unarmed persons, rape, torture, forced disappearance and abduction - as unpardonable.

Further, the Supreme Court has issued an interim order in the Government's name on April 1, ordering it not to implement its decision to withdraw the case against murder accused persons filed by Rupaiya Devi Kairin of Rautahat District. A two judge bench issued the order regarding the February 27, 2012, Government decision to withdraw murder cases against six persons. The case was filed at the District Court on September 30, 2009 on charge of killing one Dev Sharan Mahato.

Further, normal life was adversely affected in Chitwan District as a day-long bandh (general shutdown) was enforced by Rastriya Janamorcha Party (RJP) to protest against the idea of federating the nation.

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.

The Vice President Paramananda Jha expressed doubts about the completion of the constitution by May 27 and suggested the political parties to start discussion on the alternatives. He said the parties would be wise to start discussing the alternatives considering the situation after May 27 (if the statute is not ready).

UCPN-M hard-line faction led by vice chairman Mohan Baidya accused party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal of showing monopolistic behaviour by imposing personal decisions and creating unnecessary hype over intra-party rift.

The AISC endorsed a time-bound action plan to vacate the cantonments of PLA combatants and hand over the stored weapons to the NA by April 12.

Kathmandu Police arrested three persons for placing explosives in public vehicles and on charges of creating terror in the capital.

The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of Parliament has given April 18 deadline to the concerned bodies under the CA to resolve the dispute on issues concerning the new constitution.

A pressure-cooker bomb went off in Duerali under Panchkanya VDC-5, Sunsari District. According to the Police, the abandoned IED went off while removing the rope laid by a local Narendra Rai in between the Duerali basti (settlement) and Thingabari. The Police said that the explosion caused no damage to life and property.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

A group calling itself as Samyukta Jatiya Mukti Morcha (SJMM) planted an IED at a house in Kalaiya of Bara District.The pressure-cooker bomb was discovered on the veranda of the house of Bara District Secretary, Ram Prasad Chaudhary, of the NC, Police said. A bomb disposal team of the NA was sent to defuse the device.

Voluntary retirement of UCPN-M combatants, which was due to start across the country from today 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.

In what is being considered a major development in Nepal's peace process, NA has taken control of the PLA cantonments, combatants and the weapons stored in containers inside the camps.

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.

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".

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.

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 victims in Jajarkot District whose property had been captured during the conflict time have complained of not getting compensation. However, Coordinator of the local peace committee (LPC) Jajarkot, Kaman Khadka said that compensation could not be provided to the victims after the Peace Ministry stated that appeals of the victims had not followed due process.

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.

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.

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.

President Ram Baran Yadav said that he won´t sign the new constitution in his capacity as the head of the State if State restructuring is done in a way that it would lead to the disintegration of the country.

Normal life was affected in Ilam, Dhankuta, Panchthar, Sunsari, Nawalparasi, Arghakhanchi, Kanchanpur, Dang, Pyuthan, Banke, Rolpa, Jajarkot, Dailekh and Bardiya Districts due to the Nepal bandh (general shutdown) called by Rastriya Janamukti Party (RJP) and various ethnic fronts.

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.

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 Political parties are preparing to request the BAC of parliament for five more days to resolve the contentious issues related to the constitution as a meeting of the top leaders of the three major parties and the UDMF failed to arrive at consensus.

The SC today issued a mandatory order (writ of mandamus) to the Government and the Bara District Court directing them to henceforth not withdraw cases involving "serious crimes" even if they were of political nature.

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.

The CC of the CA has offered five more days to the political parties to resolve the remaining disputes related to constitution drafting.

The Government has inked a six-point agreement with Samyukta Krantikari Terai Madhesh Mukti Morcha (SKTMMM), an underground armed outfit active in Terai.

The leaders and law-makers representing all Madheshi parties formed a committee to draft their common position on all the disputed issues.

NA has formed a six-member committee to select PLA combatants who have opted for integration into the army.

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.

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.

The Madheshi parties and the Janjati (tribal) caucus are holding separate meetings today to discuss disputed issues in the constitution, including federalism.

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

The Government has decided to register a bill in the parliament to make amendment to the Article 70 of the Interim Constitution to shorten the procedure for the promulgation of new constitution.

Former PLA combatants who were disqualified by the UNMIN staged a sit-in protest at UCPN-M headquarters at Parisdanda, Koteshwor demanding rehabilitation package.

Armed Police Force (APF) today 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.

A round-table conference of Tharu representatives from several Districts concluded that the proposal for one-Madhesh-one-province is unacceptable.

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 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.

"The Government today registered a bill in the Parliament secretariat to shorten the procedure for the promulgation of new constitution. The Law Minister Brajesh Kumar Gupta registered the bill in the Parliament secretariat to make amendment to the Article 70 of the Interim Constitution.

The Government has drafted an action plan that aims to reform and manage lands in a "scientific" way to implement the commitment of political parties in the Comprehensive Peace Accord of 2006.

Normal life was affected due to a bandh (general shutdown) called by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) across the Terai region, Public transportation on highways has come to a halt in eastern Terai Districts including Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari and Siraha due to the banda.

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.

JMMM detonated a bomb at the rented house of a businessman, Pawan Pokhrel, in Kothiya, Gulariya VDC-10. The blast caused minor damage to the house. Meanwhile, JMMM in-charge Ranbir has owned up the blast saying that businessman Pawan had failed to provide NPR 100,000 as donation to his group and that he had spied against his group.

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.

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 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 leaders of indigenous community staged a sit-in before the Constituent Assembly building demanding that the rights of the indigenous groups be guaranteed in the new constitution. The leaders of the Federal Socialist Movement including Laxman Tharu, Indrahang Limbu, D.K Tamang put forth a 24-point demand insisting guarantee of Limbuwan, Khambuwan, Tamsaling, Tharuhut, Magarat, Tamuwan, Khasan and Mithila autonomous states.

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.

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 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.

Local people have enforced bandh (shutdown strike) in far western region demanding undivided far western region and protesting against 10-State federal model suggested by UCPN-M.

The CPN-UML came up with a new proposal on State restructuring aimed at countering the UCPN-M stand for 10 States and exerting pressure on the NC to accept the increase in the number of States.

The Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Chhatraman Singh Gurung said restructuring of NA has become necessary as its current structure is out-dated. He said the institutional structure of NA hasn't been reviewed since 1965 and is hence out-dated and ineffective.

At least five people died and a two dozen others were injured in a bomb explosion at the Ramanand chowk in Janakpur District today, Police said the bomb believed to be an IED went off while activists associated with Mithila Struggle Committee were organising a sit-in protest demanding the creation of Autonomous Mithila State at Ramanand Chowk. Local news reports said underground outfit JTMMM has owned up responsibility for the blast.

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.

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.

Major political parties-UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML along with the UDMF 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.

The CPN-UML has decided not to join the coalition Government led by Prime Minister Baburam Bhataarai, Responding to the UCPN -M plea to join the Government, the UML said the existing Government could not be changed into unity Government as it was formed on the basis of majority vote.

One among the several persons injured in the Janakpur bomb-blast succumbing to his injuries today, The number of victims of April 30's bomb explosion has reached 5 The deceased has been identified as Dipendra Das.

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 , 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.

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.

The general strike that has crippled life for the past 10 days in the Far-Western region continued today. Although three big political parties urged banda enforcers to call off their strike, the region still remained shut. Educational institutions and marketplaces in villages and city areas remained closed in the district headquarters of Kailali and Kanchanpur, while vehicles stayed off the road.

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai today appointed NC 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.

The third largest party in the Constituent Assembly, CPN-UML said it would support Baburam Bhattarai led Government from outside, rebuking repeated calls from UCPN-M and the NC to be part of the coalition.

Lending strong support to NA's internal restructuring proposal, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said the Army could be paralysed if the 47-year-old structure is not upgraded.

The Government has formed a three-member team under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Sitaula to hold talks with protest organizers in different parts of the country who have been demanding creation of federal provinces of their liking.

The SAC of the legislature parliament has directed the Government not to go ahead with the plan to restructure the NA. A SAC meeting today unanimously passed the decision to put the Army restructuring plan on hold until the adoption of national security policy and the action plan on democratisation of the army.

With leaders of major political parties failing to resolve disputes in constitution writing through consensus, CA secretariat is preparing to conduct votes on these issues in the full CA today. It came after top leaders from major political parties, who are members of the Constitutional Committee´s Dispute Resolution Subcommittee, decided to resolve the disputes through majority votes in the 601-seat full CA House.

With the parties deciding to put the contentious issues concerning statute drafting to voting in the Constituent Assembly, lawmakers from the ethnic and Madheshi groups have decided to vote together on the issue of federalism.

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.

Over a dozen protestors were injured in Kailali District headquarters of Dhangadi in separate clashes today. A clash took place when Police intervened between Tharu demonstrators demanding Tharuban province based on the identity of Tharu ethnicity and protestors who were for an undivided far west.

The meeting of the Constituent Assembly, which was scheduled to take place at 3pm today has been cancelled with CC not being able to provide the questionnaire related to the contentious subjects of the constitution on which voting will be conducted. This is the 10th consecutive deferral of the CA meeting.

The CPN-UML Chairman, Jhala Nath Khanal, while issuing directives to CPN-UML lawmakers at the party's parliamentary party meeting today came down heavily on members lobbying for ethnicity-based federalism.

The dispute resolution sub-committee under the CC of the Constituent Assembly today finalised 30 out of the total 117 questions related to the constitution on which voting will be conducted in the CA.

Talks between the Government and the delegation of those agitating for "undivided far west" started in Kathmandu today In the first round of talks held at the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, representatives of the agitating group presented their demands to the Government's talks team.

The CC of the Constituent Assembly today returned the questionnaire prepared by the dispute resolution subcommittee to the latter, issuing instructions to finalize the questions by accommodating suggestions offered by CC members at the meeting.

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

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.

A seven-member taskforce has been formed to put into writing the agreement between the major political parties on various contentious issues of the new constitution.

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.

The Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party has decided opt out to of National Consensus Government led by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai. The central working committee of the party took the decision to this effect today. Party spokesperson Ramashish Prasad Gupta said that the central working committee also called back party chairman Mahendra Yadav from the Government. Yadav was recently inducted in the cabinet.

The UDMF has announced a two-day Terai bandh (general shutdown) beginning May 18 calling for establishing an autonomous single Madhesh province.

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 Police in Kathmandu has said that the mastermind behind the bomb blast in Janakpur town located in Dhanusha District was Mukesh Choudhary aka Arjun Singh of Tarai Students Liberation Front.

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.

Meanwhile, the meeting of legislature parliament is set to amend the Interim Constitution on May 19 to shorten the process of constitution promulgation process. The House meeting scheduled to start at 3.00 pm on May 19 and is expected to pass the 12th Interim Constitution Amendment Bill tabled by Minister without portfolio Post Bahadur Bogati.

The leaders of the Broader Madheshi Front speaking at a joint press meeting of the Front, Janajati Struggle Committee (JSC) and Dalit and Muslim leaders today Janad, said the PM's address on Friday "did not fully address their demand though, in essence, he meant that the Maoist party has backtracked from the 11-state model."

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 talks between the three major parties and the UDMF scheduled today morning has been put off.

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 Madheshi 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. A meeting of four parties has been scheduled for May 21 to forge consensus on the state restructuring.

The nationwide bandh (general shutdown) enforced by Indigenous Nationalities Joint Struggle Committee to press their demands for identity/ethnicity-based federalism has crippled life across the country. The three-day nationwide bandh was called by the Committee comprising various organisations working for the rights and welfare of indigenous nationalities, including NEFIN. Indigenous groups have enforced the three-day strike just two days after caste-based organisations representing Brahmins, Chhetris, Dalits and Sanyasis withdrew their own strike after the government agreed to include them in indigenous (janjati) list and assured them that soon-to-be-formed provincial assemblies will exercise the sole authority to name federal States.

President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav met with top leaders of major political forces - UCPN-M, NC, CPN UML and UDMF - and stressed on the need to promulgate the new constitution by the May 27 deadline at any cost.

NEFIN withdrew all its protest programs including the strike it imposed from the last three days calling for ethnicity/identity-based federalism from May 23 after signing a nine-point agreement with the government on its demands

Two key coalition partners-UCPN-M and UDMF - have agreed to resolve the disputed issues seen in constitution drafting through voting in the CA. The two sides agreed to resort to voting in the CA to settle thorny issues if the meeting between major political forces fail to settle.

The government decided to table 13th constitution amendment bill in the parliament to pave way for three month extension of the term of the Constituent Assembly. Earlier, the major political parties agreed to extend the CA term by three more months. The parties decided to go for another extension of the CA, concluding that it was not possible to promulgate new constitution by May 27 deadline given the ongoing debate on federalism. The decision of the major parties comes despite the Supreme Court's verdict that had ended the possibility of another extension of the CA term.

CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal demanded resignation of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai before extending the term of the CA. He said that the Maoist Party's activities created mistrust among the parties; PM's resignation was the precondition to rebuild the trust.

NC decided to reject the government's decision to register constitution amendment bill in the parliament to pave way for three month extension of CA term. NC decided to remain adamant on their previous stance for promulgation of the constitution within the May 27 deadline.

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

The NC has decided to pull out of the Maoist-led 'consensus' Government, opposing the decision to extend the CA tenure by three more months.

BMF led my Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal chairman Upendra Yadav has slammed Government proposal to extend the term of the CA by three more months. He also said five point agreement signed by major four parties was a part of conspiracy to fail constitution writing process.

The Supreme Court issued a ruling to the Government, asking it not to proceed with its decision to extend the term of the CA. The government had on May 22 tabled the constitution amendment bill for the extension of the CA term by three months despite the objection from the two other major parties, the NC and the CPN -UML.

A meeting of the standing committee members of the UCPN-Maoist close to the establishment faction decided to remain in power until new constitution is promulgated. The meeting also decided to keep its policy unchanged regarding the agendas of indigenous nationalities, Muslims, Madheshis, women and marginalised communities.

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. As per the understanding reached in the meeting of top leaders of the three parties, the draft of the constitution will be issued by the CA within its deadline and that the parties will agree on the names and the number of the provinces before that. The CA will turn into legislature parliament after the promulgation of the draft of the constitution.

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.

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav advised the top leaders of major political parties to deliver the Constitution by May 27.

The CA meeting scheduled has been deferred till May 26.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal'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.

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 22 November 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.

NC, CPN- UML, broader Madhesi Front and some fringe parties have rejected the government decision to hold fresh election of the Constituent Assembly on 22 November 2012.

President Ram Baran Yadav is yet to take his decision on the Government announcement to conduct fresh election of the CA, following the unexpected demise of the CA. President is set to consult with legal experts before taking the decision.

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.

President Ram Baran Yadav directed the Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai Government to work in caretaker status until the formation of the new Government. Issuing a statement, the president instructed Government to work in caretaker status under Clause 9 of Article 39 of the Interim Constitution.

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.

Unidentified assailants shot and killed a Supreme Court judge, Rana Bahadur Bam, as he headed to work at Lalitpur District of Kathmandu. The bodyguard and a passenger accompanying the judge in the car were also wounded in the attack. A previously unknown group calling itself the Nepal Vad Party leaflet was found at the scene of crime.

The Government formed a probe committee under the coordination of AIG Kuber Singh Rana to inquire the murder case of Supreme Court Justice Rana Bahadur Bam.

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.

All the courts across the country have remained closed, as a symbolic protest against the murder of Supreme Court's justice Rana Bahadur Bam.

Election Commission came up with a list of provisions in the Interim Constitution and other electoral laws that require amendment to hold fresh Constituent Assembly elections. The EC has reiterated that it cannot hold the polls, scheduled for November 22, until the laws, including in the Interim Constitution, are amended three months ahead of the elections. The list has been forwarded to the Government.

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.

A group of nine former CA members of the NC, who have been demanding reinstatement of the dissolved assembly, called on President Ram Baran Yadav and briefed him about their demand .They insisted that reinstatement of the CA would be a welcome move. However, President Yadav said broad understanding among the parties is necessary in the current situation and that he was ready to move ahead as per political consensus. Some 61 former-CA members have demanded reinstatement of the CA.

The Broader Madheshi Front (BMF) today asked President Ram Baran Yadav to oust Prime Minister so as to give an outlet to the current political stalemate. A delegation of eight smaller parties associated with the Front, which is led by Upendra Yadav, called on President Yadav. It also demanded a roundtable conference for reaching consensus among the parties.

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.

The indigenous Janajati leaders of NC have threatened to quit the party over differences with party leadership on the issue of identity-based federalism. A delegation of around 122 indigenous leaders including formers Janajati CA members of NC met party president Sushil Koirala today, and submitted a memorandum demanding that the party to respect the sentiments of its Janajati leaders and their aspiration for identity-based federalism.

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".

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.

Basanta Shahi, a cadre of the CPN-UML-aligned All Nepal Free Students Union (ANNFSU) was shot at by unidentified persons in front of his house at Sohrakhutte, Kathmandu today. The motive behind the attack remains unknown.

Opposition parties including NC and CPN-UML have warned of a stern protest movement to remove Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, accusing the Government of moving ahead in unilateral and unconstitutional way. NC President Sushil Koirala accused UCPN-M of showing despotic manners by taking unilateral decisions. CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal said the aspirations of Nepali people to draft new constitution were shattered due to the ambition of the UCPN-M to impose autocratic rule. He said election cannot be held in the current scenario.

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai today reiterated the need to amend the interim constitution to pave way for fresh polls to elect a new CA. He also ruled out the possibility of bringing the dissolved CA back to life. "The revival of the dissolved assembly is politically, constitutionally and morally impossible," he said.

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.

NA inactivated a socket-bomb found in a brick-kiln at Kanthapur of Kalika VDC-6 in Bardiya District today. Its Gorakhdal Battalion inactivated the bomb found in Pandey brick kiln, Police said. An unidentified gang planted the bomb in the office from a window, Keshav Pandey, proprietor of the kiln said.

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.

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.

The United People's Party of Kangleipak (UPPK) 'general secretary' N Shanti has been arrested by an Indian security agency from Kathmandu. According to a reliable source, the militant leader, identified as Ningthoujam Shanti alias Chinglemba alias Chingkhei, son of Surendra kumar of Sagolband Wahengbam Leikai, was recently arrested from Kathmandu in Nepal. The agency also recovered three different foreign passports from him.

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.

The acting Chief EC Nil Kanth Uprety and some members of the EC today met President Ram Baran Yadav. They briefed the President on the constitutional and legal hiccups to holding fresh elections. The committee has also raised doubts on whether the constitution can be amended through ordinances. The panel has suggested finding common political ground and amending the constitution by using the discretionary powers of the President. The panel was formed soon after PM Baburam Bhattarai on May 27 announced fresh Constituent Assembly elections.

Five natives of the India State of Manipur, including a rebel leader, have been apprehended by Nepal Customs at Kathmandu Airport today. The origin of the flight, seizures made from them, if any and personal details and ranks of the arrested individuals have not been disclosed by the Nepalese authority.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The families of the persons disappeared during the 10-years of conflict have not been able to receive the interim relief due to the delayed processing of the applications.

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.

Chief Commissioner of the Election Commission Neelkantha Upreti said that election to the CA could be held on November 22 if the political parties are able to forge consensus to end the existing political stalemate and also agree on election programmes. However, he said that the CA election could also be held within April 13, 2013, if it is not possible on November 22 this year.

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.

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.

Former leader of the MJF-L Sarat Singh Bhandari announced the formation of his new party - Rastriya Madhesh Samajwadi Party. The party has 61 members Central Committee, which mostly comprise of leaders and activists who were either expelled or left MJF-L with Bhandari.

A group of former CA members of the NC have urged the party leadership to make the resurrection of the CA as the immediate agenda of the party. They stated that the CA was dissolved unceremoniously and unconstitutionally and that its revival would lead to the solution to the present political stalemate.

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.

The Supreme Court declined to issue an interim order against the Government's plan to bring a full budget.

Daily life was adversely affected in Chitwan District due to a day-long bandh imposed by the UCPN-M.

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.

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.

Nepal Army (NA) started integration process of former Maoist combatants from July 4 as per the decision of Army Integration Special Committee (AISC) and direction of the Government.

Leaders of 22 opposition political parties jointly met President Ram Baran Yadav at Shital Niwas, requesting him to not to approve the budget to be presented by the Maoist-Madheshi Government.

CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal met President Ram Baran Yadav and requested him to start process to form new Government.

President Ram Baran Yadav suggested the Government to take the opposition parties into confidence before introducing the budget for the new fiscal year. The opposition parties are opposing to a full budget by the care-taker Government.

PM Baburam Bhatttarai made it clear that the Government is firm on presenting a full budget. Speaking to a delegation of Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) at the PMO, Bhattarai claimed that the Government would introduce the budget on consensus.

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.

The integration of the former Maoist combatants, which started from July 4, had come to a halt with the combatants opposing the standards set by the NA, complaining that the process is being carried out as a regular recruitment rather than "respectful integration".

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.

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".

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.

Six weeks after Nepal' CA expired without delivering a constitution, Nepal's last monarch Gyanendra Shah has said he wants to be the king again. Shah expressed his desire in an interview to a private television channel.

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said, "The former king does not seem to have learnt any lessons. He will lose whatever facility he is getting."

The delay in clearing legal hurdles and the refusal of the opposition parties to be part of the fresh Constituent Assembly elections have minimised chances of the polls being held on November 22, Election Commission (EC) officials said.

Leaders of the main opposition parties met President Ram Baran Yadav and requested him not to give his approval if the Government comes up with a full-fledged budget.

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.

Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun said President Ram Baran Yadav has agreed to the Government request for budgetary allocation for CA election and establishment of Nepal Army's general directorate for security and development.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.'

Finance Minister Barshaman Pun claimed that the new one-third budget introduced by the Government on July 15 has opened the door to forge consensus to end the political deadlock witnessed among the political parties.

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.

The sixth plenum of the party was organised in Palungtar of Gorkha in November 2012 amid ideological dispute. The Palungtar plenum had adopted peace and constitution as its immediate priority while keeping the option of "people's revolt" open.

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.

A meeting of Janajati Caucus of the dissolved Constituent Assembly has decided to continue its activities concerning issues of ethnic groups. The meeting of former lawmakers affiliated with various political parties agreed to give continuity to the Caucus in a transformed manner in the face of CA dissolution.

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.

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.

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."

The central plenum of the Maoist party that concluded in Kathmandu had decided to dissolve all of its central bodies and convene party's first general convention in the Nepali month of Magh (Jan-Feb 2013).

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.

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.

President Ram Baran Yadav urged all political parties to end the current deadlock at the earliest, adding that the increase in rift among the political parties at this critical juncture would be detrimental to the well-being of the country.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Senior leader of CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal has said it will be impossible to forge consensus among the political parties to end the current political impasse until Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai steps down.

'General secretary' of CPN-Maoist Ram Bahadur Thapa said his party was not going to reach any formal alliance with the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML.

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.

President Ram Baran Yadav reminded Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai that elections would not be possible without broad political understanding.

Acting chief election commissioner (CEC) Nil Kantha Upreti has said the two election ordinances passed by the government will not be enough to conduct the elections.

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.

According to a top Police source Kathmandu valley, Nepal is flooded with FICN of the denomination of INR 100 and INR 500 is being used by black marketeers who have connections in India,. The source claimed that the fake currencies are very hard to recognise as they are almost identical to the original ones.

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.

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.

The UCPN-Maoist has decided to start "serious talks" with the opposition parties for a package agreement on constitution, power sharing and election.

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.

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.

NC leader Bilamendra Nidhi said the next election should be for the CA as the constitution drafted by any other means would not be acceptable to all. Bilamendra Nidhi's statement contradicts the opinion of majority of the district presidents of the NC, who had suggested the party leadership to go for parliamentary elections instead of CA elections.

 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.

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav is scheduled to hold consultation with the top leaders of 27 political parties including opposition Nepali Congress and CPN-UML as a part of his initiation to end current political impasse of the country on August 5.

 JTMM, a Terai-based armed group led by Bhagat Singh, has agreed to handover its weapons to the local authority following the talks with Government's representatives in Pakali of Sunsari District. As a gesture of commitment to the agreement, the armed group handed over seven sets of pistols and a revolver to District Administration Office, Sunsari, after the talks. Signing a four-point agreement with the Government, the armed group has agreed to collect all of its weapons and hand over to the government within 20 days. As per the agreement, the Government will start the process of releasing the armed outfit's cadres from various jails and will also withdraw the cases filed against its cadres.

The SC scrapped a writ seeking an order to the President Ram Baran Yadav to remove Baburam Bhattarai and initiate the process for the formation of new Council of Ministers. The Court scrapped the writ saying that there was no any reason to issue show cause notice on a complete political issue at a time when there is absence of Constituent Assembly and the Parliament.

Political leaders and activists argued that even though the proposal of forming a single party in Madhes is a welcome one, the idea will find it difficult to bear fruit. Sadbhawana Party General Secretary Manish Suman said the proposal of forming a single party was a positive move. However, he expressed doubts over how such a party would be able to accommodate leaders who are all ?vying for power?. TMLP vice chairman Hridayesh Tripathy said formation of a single party in Madhes was necessary to ensure the identity and rights of Madhesi people. He clarified that his party was not claiming the leadership of such a party.

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.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that issues of nationalism and sovereignty are still a matter of challenge to Nepal. He also said that Nepal?s political parties were capable of handling these challenges if they come together. ?We cannot always blame others for interfering in Nepal?s affairs. But we will never compromise with others on the issue of nationalism,? he stressed.

Nepal Police busted a FICN racket arresting three people, including two Pakistani nationals, and seized FICN with face value over INR 2.9 million from a hotel in Kathmandu. According to an official, the FICN were in INR 500 and INR 1,000 denominations. The arrested were identified as Muhammod Naee Mullah, 47, Sohail Mohamad Ismail, 40, both Pakistani nationals and Rehmat Basir Dhobi, 48, a resident of Bara District in southern Nepal.

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.

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.

Janajati (indigenous people) leaders and intellectuals announced the proposed name and the manifesto of the proposed party, the day the country marked the International Day of Indigenous People. The proposed ?Social Democratic Pluri-National Party? will aim to include people from all social, political and ethnic backgrounds, leaders said. The manifesto aims to form a ?national alternative political force? that would accommodate people of every background, irrespective of caste, class, culture, location and creed. It has included a provision of group leadership so as to avoid a possible power tussle within the party. The group leadership will be rotated to give equal opportunity to all, leaders said.

Chaitanya said the new party will be finally formed within three months after they collate public opinion from across the country. A 101-member taskforce has been formed to collect public opinion. The leaders? plan to announce the party formation was postponed at the behest of some influential leaders like CPN-UML vice chairman Ashok Rai. The leaders cited lack of groundwork in forming a new party.

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.

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said he is ready to step down provided there?s ?guarantee? of identity-based constitution.

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.

 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.

Vice President Paramananda Jha said that reinstatement of the dissolved CA would be the best option to end current political deadlock of the country. He also suggested the political parties to revive the CA and endorse amended Interim Constitution through it to give outlet to the country. According to him, revival of the CA was compulsory to amend Interim Constitution to hold the election as well. ?Only the political parties can resolve the current political crisis,? he added, ?President is also making efforts for possible way outs.?

 Jaya Narayan Pasawan alias Barud Tyagi, ?commander? of JTMM, was killed in retaliatory firing by the Police at Belaekdara along the Samasi-Jaleshwor road in Mahottari District. Pasawan was the outfit's ?commander? for Mahottari, Sarlahi and Dhanusha Districts. Superintendent of Police Suraj KC said Constable Surendra Chaudhary was injured in the incident. Police seized a country-made pistol and its two ammunitions from the victim.

Youth wings aligned with 21 opposition parties announced additional programmes of protest to exert pressure on PM Baburam Bhattarai to step down. The protest programmes include disrupting the functions organised by the government to mark the Youth Day and shutting down academic institutions with English names on August 15, bringing out 'mockery rally' against the PM and demonstrating in the district administration offices of all 75 districts on Augusts 16, conducting public polls on the legitimacy of the government August 18 and submitting the results of public polls to the President on August 20. The youth leaders said they would continue joint protest until PM Bhattarai resigns from his post.

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.

MJF, Republican, a constituent of UDMF, said that the plans and policies, federal council, among others will also be announced from the assembly of pro-federal forces on August 15. The meeting also decided to change the name of the alliance to Federal Democratic Republican Alliance and discussed the ToR for forming it.

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.

Cadres of NC and CPN-UML waved black flags at Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai at Banepa when he was there on his way to Dhulikhel to attend a programme organised by KU.

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.

14 heads of various NC party departments and two NC zonal coordinators have resigned en masse from their new posts, expressing dissatisfaction at the low representation of Deuba faction in the new bodies. The disgruntled leaders of the Deuba camp led by party central leader Min Bahadur Biswarkma submitted their group resignation to NC President Sushil Koirala at the party central office in Sanepa. The NC president had constituted 12 different departments and appointed heads of all 42 departments two weeks earlier, giving 13 of them to Deuba faction.

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.

NC decided to seek a review on SC verdict on a corruption case against former minister and NC leader Khum Bahadur Khadka. The NC Central Committee meeting held at party headquarters in Sanepa Lalitpur and decided to seek a judicial review on the SC verdict that convicted Khadka of corruption and slapped 18 months jail sentence and Nepali Rupee 9.5 million penalty on August 14.The NC further said that the SC verdict was biased as it revoked the Special Court's five-year-old decision that acquitted Khadka.

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.

President Ram Baran Yadav turned down the two election-related ordinances, presented to him by the Government on July 27 related to the amendment to the Election Act and the Election to the CA. According to the President Office, President did not see any relevance of introducing the ordinance at the moment in view of the Election Commission's official notice to the Government that the conducting the election on November 22 would not be possible due to lack of political consensus and necessary laws.

UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, who heads newly formed FDRA, suggested NC and CPN-UML to form a separate alliance.

Rift between rival factions in NC has further widened as the party establishment faction took various decisions amidst opposition from Sher Bahadur Deuba faction. The NC Central Working Committee endorsed the proposal of party president Sushil Koirala on the basis of majority vote despite the objection from the rival faction. The meeting passed the proposal to create 12 more departments, make appointments to 42 departments, form various committees including Central Disciplinary Committee, Central Election Committee, Central Audit Committee and two directive committees to hold general conventions of the sister wings.

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.

Two days after refusing to endorse two ordinances related to election forwarded by the Government, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav defended his move saying that he did so as the Election Commission had already told the government that conducting the Constituent Assembly polls on 22 November was impossible.

17 youth and student wings affiliated to various political parties including NC and CPN-UML staged demonstration in front of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai's official residence in Baluwatar demanding his resignation.

PMO has told the SC that it was seeking an urgent solution to the difficulties seen in appointments to the constitutional bodies, including justices in the apex court and ambassadors, as per the spirit of the Interim Constitution. Furnishing a written reply to the apex court on August 14 in response to the court's show-cause notice, PMO Secretary Jay Mukunda Khanal stated that the difficulty in appointing members to the constitutional posts arose in the absence of parliament. Khanal has stated that as of now there is no way to appoint members to the constitutional bodies without following the constitutional parliamentary hearing process. Article 155 of the Interim Constitution stipulates that officials appointed to the constitutional bodies, including the SC and ambassadors, face parliamentary hearing prior to their legal appointment.

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.

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.

The Police unveiled its special security campaign effective from August 21 evening to curb criminal activities in capital Kathmandu. Metropolitan Police Range Hanumandhoka disclosed new security strategy dividing the capital city into five sectors. The security teams will be equipped with weapons, handcuffs, notebook, and photos [of known suspects] and necessary record of the suspects who are at large.

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'.

NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba said he was not interested to be Prime Minister of next Government if it would be formed on the basis of majority, instead of consensus. Deuba, who is also projected by a section of the NC as the prime ministerial candidate for the next Government, said the leadership of consensus Government must go to the NC and that he would not go for the prime minister's post if it's formed without consensus.

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.

The Supreme Court ordered the NA to halt the ongoing recruitment process for Army officer candidates for the time being. A single bench of Justice Tahir Ali Ansari issued the interim order which effectively bars the NA to conduct any further exams for Army officer candidates who passed written exams recently. The apex court issued the order in response to a writ petition filed by Rakesh Yadav against the publication of result of written exams for officer level in the Army on July 25. In the petition, he argued that NA conducted the exams only for candidates under the open category but not for those under inclusive category.

NC President Sushil Koirala said that his party claimed leadership of the new national consensus government as it has the ability to forge ahead by uniting everyone. He said that since other political parties have already experienced government leadership, it is now the turn of NC to take the reins. He also said that the leftist party has been violating past agreements repeatedly and is intent upon capturing state power.

RJP chairman and former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa said that the country would face unimaginable catastrophe if the consensus is not forged among the political parties to resolve current political deadlock. He also accused the leaders of major parties of pushing the country towards further crisis to fulfill their own interest.

The term of the Special Committee for Supervision, Rehabilitation and Integration of former Maoist combatants has been extended by three more months. The Cabinet decided to extend the term of the Special Committee putting forth the clause that the Army integration work should be completed within the extended three months. The Special Committee's term had expired on August 16. The government decision to extend Special Committee's term comes amidst accusation by opposition parties that the government is trying to move ahead with the Army integration work arbitrarily by not extending the Committee's term.

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.

NWPP 'chairman' Narayan Man said that President Ram Baran Yadav should form a new government under his own leadership. Bijukchhe has been advocating for presidential rule as a solution to the current impasse.

President Ram Baran Yadav asked two Cabinet ministers not to visit him to lobby for promulgation of ordinances without first striking consensus on the political front. Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai had sent two of his deputies-Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar and Narayan Kaji Shrestha-to take the President into confidence before forwarding new ordinances.

NC CWC member Arjun Narsingh KC said that referendum on the unsettled issues would be the best option to resolve existing dispute among various political parties, instead of reviving the CA.

Unidentified assailants, killed 'General secretary' of the MJF-affiliated FWU, Rama Shankar Mandal in Birgunj, area of Parsa District.

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.

Unidentified assailants, killed 'General secretary' of the MJF-affiliated FWU, Rama Shankar Mandal in Birgunj, area of Parsa District. 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.

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.

AISC responsible for supervision, integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants, is holding meeting to find way out of the halted integration process. The news report states that AISC member representing from the opposition parties will also attend the meeting despite their protest against the Government.

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.

PM Baburam Bhattarai on completion of one year in office defended the actions of the Government and ruled out resignation. Bhattarai claimed that he made all possible attempts to reach out to the leaders of the opposition parties for consensus. PM said that the parties now have no choice other than arriving at a consensus and said he was fully prepared to make way for a consensus government, but resigning without consensus might invite chaos in the country.

CPN-UML politburo member, Surendra Pandey has warned that there is "high risk" of either the President or NA capturing absolute power in the country.

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

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.

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav urged the major political parties to immediately build an agreement on the disputed issues that exists among them and come up with a final answer regarding either holding election to get fresh mandate of the people or reinstate the Constituent Assembly.

Speaking at the same programme, NC president Sushil Koirala said he was hopeful of consensus evolving soon as the parties had resumed talks. He also reiterated that the Government should step down in order to create an environment of trust.

CPN-UML 'chairman' Sushil Koirala blamed Maoists for the present crisis and that all sides should now realise the need for consensus.

CPN-UML is set to hold talks with dissident Janajatis (indigenous people) and Madheshi leaders, which leaders from party establishment said will be the "last chance" for them to decide whether to stay in the party or part ways. The party leadership is reportedly preparing to clarify its position on the nine-point demand of the dissidents, which chiefly concerns their demand for single identity-based federalism.

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".

JTMM group led by Bhagat Singh, handed over the weapons including 63 sets of homemade pistol and guns to District Police Office Sunsari. Earlier, on August 4, the Government and JTMM had signed a four-point agreement.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction stated that only fifty percent of the physical infrastructures damaged during the ten-year long conflict have been reconstructed so far. Out of the 5,560 physical structures damaged during the conflict, only 2,883 have been reconstructed.

Supreme Court ordered the Nepal Army not to recruit any officers in the 15 seats allocated to the Madheshi community under the inclusive category,. The division bench of Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi and Justice Sushila Karki issued the stay order in response to a petition filed by Rakesh Yadav.

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.

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.

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.

Nepali Congress 'vice president' Ram Chandra Poudel has said that revival of the dissolved CA was crucial to end the existing political deadlock in the country.

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.

Newly appointed COAS Gaurav Shumsher Rana said the Nepal Army would play necessary role in concluding the peace process.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers decided to forward an ordinance to the president so that amendment of laws on appointment in constitutional bodies can take place.

NC President Sushil Koirala said that his party was in favour of holding fresh election. However, Koirala hinted that the NC was also open to the option of CA's reinstatement.

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.

CWC meeting of the NC has been deferred indefinitely. The decision to put on hold the CWC meeting comes at a time when the party has not been able to make public its official position on the Maoist proposal to reinstate the CA for a brief period to promulgate the constitution.

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). The NC general secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula said the discussion dwelt mainly on the option of reinstatement of the CA for a brief period if the parties settle the disputed issues of the constitution. According to Sitaula, the NC reiterated that a NC-led national unity government should be formed irrespective of what the agreement would be and that Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said his party was positive about the NC's demand.

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. Khanal said he didn't see the possibility of consensus emerging any time soon because the Maoists were not ready for it due to fear of losing power. He said Prachanda's unstable position had come in the way of the efforts of consensus. Arguing that the Maoists were clinging onto the government despite lacking the authority to rule, he said the opposition parties were going to launch agitations from September 27.

The Ministry of Finance has allocated NPR 819.59 million with a view to concluding the ongoing peace process by providing financial package to the former PLA combatants who have chosen voluntary retirement. Officials at the AISC Secretariat, which is responsible for monitoring, rehabilitation and integration of former Maoist combatants, said that the PLA combatants opting for voluntary retirement will get NPR 500,000 to 800,000 along with travel expense. According to reports, the 'junior commissioned officers' will be discharged from the respective camps whereas, the 'officer level fighters', will be discharged from the Nepal Army School at Chitwan.

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. Issuing a press statement party spokesperson Agni Sapkota said the national conventions of the sister organisations had been deferred due to "technical problems and few other difficulties". According to him, the new dates for the conference will be fixed after a discussion between the office-bearers of the party and the leaders of the concerned sister organisations. The national conventions of the Maoist sister organisations were earlier scheduled to be held from September to November.

NC vice president Ram Chandra Poudel told media persons after a meeting of party office-bearers held at party president Sushil Koirala's Maharajgunj residence that the CA could be revived if the parties agreed on multi-ethnic federal model. He claimed 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.

Central Working Committee member of NC, Arjun Narsingh KC said reinstatement of the dissolved CA was not possible.

President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav urged all the major political parties to end current political impasse of the country before Dashain festival. He stressed on the need for consensus among four major political forces to give outlet to the country. He also assured the leaders that he would be supportive to them if they come up with a common ground.

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.

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.

Political leaders failed to reach consensus over federalism and CA. They said they may go for fresh elections if they fail to have one voice on issues related to federalism or opt for revival of the CA if the disputed issues are sorted out through political consensus.

Constitutional expert and former chairman of the erstwhile Constitutional Committee Nilambar Acharya said that there are no legitimate grounds for CA revival.

MJF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav and TMLP chief Mahanta Thakur have held several rounds of talks in the past one and a half months to forge "possible" party unity.

All public and private schools have been shut down in Kanchanpur District indefinitely after a group of students close to the UCPN-M vandalized two schools on September 17.

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.

Seven Madheshi and Janajati parties- MPRF, RJP, NMSP, TNRD, JPN, KSRP, and NSSP- have warned they would take to the streets if their major concerns, including single identity-based federalism and inclusiveness, are not properly addressed.

Different teachers´ unions withdrew the indefinite educational institutions shutdown that they had called for after the UCPN-M and the ANNISU-R agreed to compensate the schools.

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.

The UDMF said it would accept anyone proposed by the three other parties as the prime ministerial candidate.

The unverified former PLA Nepal combatants have withdrawn their protest programme following a four-point understanding with the Government.

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.

NC meeting concluded that it was not possible to hold fresh election under the leadership of existing Government.

Nine fringe political parties joined forces with CPN-Maoist Baidya group to oppose decision of four major political forces to go to fresh election of the CA.

CPN-Maoist, Baidya party leaders who have been expressing objection to the decision of the major four political forces to go for fresh CA elections told NC not to sideline them while taking crucial decisions.

Former king Gyanendra Shah said that he is worried about country's "worsening situation" and that he was "watching it seriously".

After the ruling parties refused to step down before a "package deal" on all contentious issues in constitution writing, the NC has called a meeting of opposition parties on September 24 to chalk out a common strategy.

NC President Sushil Koirala has decided to opt out of the race for Prime Minister from his party amid counter claims for the post by rivals Ram Chandra Paudel and Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Dissident politicians of CPN-UML say they will formally quit the party on October 4 accusing the leadership of rebuffing their demand on naming and delineating provinces based on single-ethnic identity in new federal set up.

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said that the political parties should not delay consensus on contentious issues in constitution writing.

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.

Others reports say there were 16 opposition parties present in the meeting.

Various opposition parties meeting also demanded Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai's resignation, concluding that the incumbent Government has been a major obstacle in resolving the present political crisis.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda 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.

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.

NC senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba claimed that there is no dispute in the party over nomination of its prime ministerial candidate for a new Government.

NC President Sushil Koirala is "under pressure" from his supporters to become the prime ministerial candidate.

TMDP and MPRF have begun formal talks on unification after rounds of informal talks between senior leaders of the two parties. Senior leaders, including TMDP Chairman Mahantha Thakur, and MPRF Chairman Upendra Yadav held their first formal talks on party unification in Kathmandu.

The scheduled closure of the 15 camps on September 28, 2012, will mark an end to the Army integration process that had dominated the political arena since the beginning of the peace process in 2006.

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai sought cooperation of NA in its democratization process.

PM Dr Baburam Bhattarai said that to hand over the Government leadership to NC in the present circumstances will be 'suicidal'.

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.

Chairman of FSP Anil Kumar Jha said that they have taken initiatives to unite parties that split from NSP.

NC seriously differing over the protest programs announced by the CPN-Maoist and the latter showing reluctance to join a proposed taskforce of agitating political parties, the long-awaited formation of an alliance of opposition parties could not materialize in a meeting of 19- political forces.

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

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.

Two Terai-based parties and five Janajati political outfits joined force under a new alliance FDF. MJF-N, RMSP, RJP, NSSP, KASC, TRD and JP are in the FDF.

In an all-party meeting, all political forces represented in the erstwhile CA agree that the country needs fresh CA elections, but they appeared clearly divided over who should lead the Government that will conduct the elections.

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.

At least 36 Janajati leaders and cadres of the NC announced their resignation from party membership. The disgruntled Janajati leaders said they are leaving NC as the party was not seen serious about federalism, one of their foremost demands.

NC has decided to address the demands raised by the leaders representing indigenous community.

Senior leader of NC Sher Bahadur Deuba said that reviving the dissolved CA was the best option to promulgate new constitution.

NC General Secretary Krishna Sitaula claimed that unity Government would be formed under the leadership of his party within a month.

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.

An Eastern Regional Conference on Security organized by the MHA started.

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.

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.

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

Analysts watching Madheshi politics term the initiatives taken by Madhesh-based political parties on unification as a positive development. However, they expressed doubt that the process would be an easy task.

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.

Mohan Baidya 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.

NC president Sushil Koirala made it clear that his party does not consider revival of the CA as a way of finding a solution to the protracted political stalemate.

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.

Over 150 former CA members representing around two dozen political parties gathered in Kathmandu and spoke in favor of reinstating the CA dissolved on May 27.

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.

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav said he was concerned that leaders of major political parties were not following the SCs verdict on the fate of the CA.

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.

President indicated that he would not give his nod to any ordinance prepared by the Government unilaterally.

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

PM Baburam Bhattarai said the President Dr Ram Baran Yadav should remain within his jurisdiction and not meddle with parties.

October 15

President Ram Baran Yadav made it clear that the dissolved assembly "cannot be resurrected at any cost.

UCPN-M chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal 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

President Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai held nearly three-hour long meeting in their efforts to reconcile differences. The meeting between them also focused on the current political deadlock with the deadline set by the parties to forge consensus on all contentious issues ending October 16.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar said that Madheshi force should be given opportunity to lead the consensus Government if the three major parties, UCPN-M, NC, and CPN-UML fail to find a common ground on the thorny issues including the leadership in the unity Government.

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.

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.

Senior leaders of FDF, an alliance of two Madheshi and five indigenous parties, urged the President to take initiatives for bringing political parties to consensus.

NC Central Working Committee member Prakash Sharan Mahat said that his party might go for reinstatement of the CA if the parties show readiness to resolve constitution-related disputes based on an understanding reached among the parties on May 15, 2012.

October 19

President Ram Baran Yadav summoned the chiefs of over two dozen political forces in a bid to press them to find a solution for the protracted political and constitutional deadlock.

President Ram Baran Yadav made clear that he was ready to resign from the post any time and face the elections if four major political forces come up with consensus to hold a new presidential vote together with that of the CA.

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.

Leaders of the ruling coalition Government have agreed to keep all options open to forge consensus among political parties.

October 20

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai's political advisor Devendra Poudel said his party was ready to quit the Government provided there was an agreement between the parties to resurrect the CA.

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.

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.

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

NC President Sushil Koirala and Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel advocated two opposing views on ending the ongoing political deadlock.

A group of former chief justices counseled the PM Baburam Bhattarai that the dissolved CA can be reinstated only for the purpose of amending the interim constitution to pave the way for holding fresh elections and to conduct parliamentary hearings for appointment in vital constitutional bodies but not for the purpose of producing new constitution.

Expressing fears that the country may plunge into constitutional and economic crises if the current deadlock continues, President Ram Baran Yadav has urged the top leaders of major political parties to end the deadlock at the earliest.

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.

EC said that the political parties should reach a deal within the next month if elections are to be held in April. Acting Chief Election Commissioner Nilkantha Uprety said that parties should arrive at a consensus before November 30 to address the legal and constitutional difficulties in holding the polls.

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.

NC President Sushil Koirala said that the party´s CWC meeting scheduled to begin from October 31 will take a formal decision to go for fresh CA polls.

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

Leaders of the ruling coalition have failed to reach a consensus on either going for fresh polls of reviving the dissolved CA was the best option to resolve the current political crisis.

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.

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav said that he would not endorse any ordinance including the one relating to the budget without consensus among the political parties.

UDMF an alliance of Madhesh based parties has called its meeting on November 1 to take decision regarding its position on two options-either to go for the revival of the CA or fresh election.

NC CWC meeting to take an official decision on either to go for fresh polls or reinstatement of the CA, on October 31.

A meeting of ruling coalition Government decided to bring the Government's annual budget through an ordinance by mid-November, regardless of how talks with opposition parties fare.

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.

NC has officially decided to go for fresh CA polls.

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

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.

President Ram Baran Yadav said that he would not take any decision without consensus between the political forces.

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

President's office has seriously objected to a public statement made by Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun. The minister had claimed that the President was considering dismissing the Baburam Bhattarai government.

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.

Further, President Ram Baran Yadav has said the Government will be morally bound to step down if parties fail to secure a new election deal by November 22. Election Commission has already announced that the November polls will not be possible, the Government is yet to postpone or take a new decision on it.

Opposition parties have refused to be involved in the preparatory work for the budget despite the Finance Ministry's invitation.

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

FDRA decided to try its best to forge consensus with the opposition parties on preparing a new budget by mid-November.

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

Minister for Finance, Barshaman Pun held discussions with NC President Sushil Koirala about bringing a new budget by forging political consensus.

NC President Sushil Koirala has said that taking political and economic decisions through ordinance was an anti-democratic move. Koirala said that they requested the President Baburam Bhattarai to play roles as the patron of the Interim Constitution of Nepal.

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai's political advisor Devendra Poudel said that the country would plunge into political disaster if President Ram Baran Yadav blocks budget-related ordinance.

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.

President Ram Baran Yadav and NC president Sushil Koirala discussed current political situation of the country.

RMSP Chairman, Saratsingh Bhandari said, demands of Madhesh and Madhesi were not simply addressed because President and Vice-president were Madheshi. He emphasized to grant equal participation to Madheshi in all State mechanism for their empowerment.

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai warned former king Gyanendra Shah of cutting facilities being provided by the Government if he tried to take benefit of country's transition.

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.

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.

Leaders from 19 political parties are scheduled to announce anti-government protests to be launched after Tihar. A team of leaders from the opposition parties have already drafted an outline of joint protest programs.

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´.

Government had to postpone its plan to introduce full budget. It was set to introduce full budget of around NPR 458 billion for the current fiscal year 2012/13 in spite of objection from the opposition.

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

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.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhadar said that political parties will forge consensus to end the current political deadlock in the country by November 30.

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

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.

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.

Selected civil society leaders representing various professional sectors vowed to support the opposition parties agitating to oust the present Government, but have set conditions.

The Government yet again deferred its scheduled plan to unveil annual budget for November 20, as the opposition parties firmly stood against the Government plan.

President Ram Baran Yadav is all set to make a 'written request to parties to strike consensus on a political roadmap, including formation of a national unity Government ,' if efforts to give an outlet to the political and constitutional crises fail by November 22, the election date fixed by the Government.

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.

President?s Office clarified that President Ram Baran Yadav has not given November 22 deadline for political parties to reach a consensus on major issues including the budget fixed deadline to the parties.

Further, 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.

The Government announced a budget of NPR 351.93 billion, ending long-running confusion over fiscal operations for the remaining eight months of fiscal year 2012/13. 

Government announced fresh CA elections in the month of Baisakh (April-May) next year, and submitted a budget ordinance to the President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav for approval. 

President Ram Baran Yadav approved the budget ordinance presented by the Government. 

Opposition has denounced the unilateral announcement of fresh election of the CA by the Government.

A socket bomb was found at the venue of a mass meeting to be addressed by NC senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba at Sunkuda in Bahjang District.

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.

16 opposition parties vowed to intensify the anti-Government protests saying that the ruling coalition´s unilateral move to introduce budget through ordinance further deepened the mistrust between the opposition parties and ruling coalitions.

Madhesh-based political parties in opposition have taken strong exception to the budget introduced by the caretaker Government stating that it could disturb environment of consensus among political parties.

PM Baburam Bhattarai reiterated that he was ready to quit the post anytime if there was a political consensus among parties.

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.

Civil society members have joined opposition parties to protest against Baburam Bhattarai-led coalition Government.

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav called on the political parties to nominate a prime ministerial candidate through consensus and come up with an appropriate proposal to form a new Government within the next seven days.

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.  

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Dolakh Bahadur Gurung and Commissioner Ayodhi Prasad Yadav have called on the PM to make necessary legal arrangements to conduct election.

PM Baburam Bhattarai asked President Ram Baran Yadav to fulfill his duties by remaining within the ambit of the constitution and never to disregard it.

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav reiterated that he won?t trespass the constitutional limits prescribed by the Interim Constitution. President Yadav appealed political parties to come up with a new prime ministerial candidate. 

Opposition political parties have called off their protest programs scheduled for November 30 and December 1 in view of the changed political context, mainly following the president´s call for formation of a consensus Government.

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.

NC President Sushil Koirala has asked Dahal to support his candidacy for the PM of a consensus Government.

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

President Ram Baran Yadav has agreed to extend the deadline by one more week should the political parties failed to reach to an agreement on consensus prime ministerial candidate within the stipulated deadline.

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.

President Ram Baran Yadav extended the deadline given to the parties to nominate a consensus prime ministerial candidate by seven days.

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.

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.

NEFIN said it will not accept the findings of the national census report and will start agitation against it. NEFIN chief Raj Kumar Lekhi said they were forced to agitate as the 2011 census has not only reduced the number of indigenous nationalities compared to the 2001 census, but also blatantly denied the existence of 10 indigenous nationalities out of the 59 enlisted by the Government.

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.

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

A former UCPN-M activist was murdered by unidentified assailants following his abduction from his home in Ratmate of Darkha VDC.

An IED went off near Doorsanchar Chowk in Banepa area of Kavre District.  No one was injured in the blast.

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

Sushil Koirala claimed that consensus on new Government is likely to emerge by December 6, the last day of the second deadline given by the President Ram Baran Yadav to the parties.  

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. 

In order to check infiltration of Pakistan-based terrorists, smuggling of FICN and human trafficking, India has deployed advanced internet protocol cameras at three places along the Indo-Nepal international border in Uttar Pradesh,

Three major political parties- UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML has 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.

NC proposed the party´s president, Sushil Koirala, as its candidate for the post of PM in a new, election Government.

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.

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.

President Ram Baran Yadav has decided to extend the deadline only after holding discussion with the parties on December 7.

At least two dozen ?disqualified? combatants were injured when police disrupted a torch rally organized by them at UCPN-M office in Kathmandu.

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.

India has asked Kathmandu to strengthen its screening process since intelligence inputs suggest that ISI-backed terror groups are trying to push active terrorists in the guise of ex-militants

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav extended the deadline for the formation of consensus Government, by six days.

Chairman of the NEFIN, Rajkumar Lekhi, said the consensus made by four major political forces is not acceptable to them.

Sadbhawana Party chairman and Health Minister Rajendra Mahato said Madheshi parties could accept a consensus Government under the NC on the condition that it accepts the four-point agreement with the UCPN-M which led to the formation of the Baburam Bhattarai-led coalition Government.

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.

PM Baburam Bhattarai said that a package deal on resolving the crisis is eluding top leaders as political parties are only thinking about elections.

FDRA decided to expand the cabinet if there is no package deal between the parties on key issues including formation of the unity Government within the next five days.

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.

The NC said that it would not accept any preconditions, especially relating to the contentious issues of new statute, to secure the prime ministerial berth.

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.

A group of NC Central Working Committee members argued that the party should not stick to its demand for Government leadership if there is guarantee of fresh polls by mid-May.

Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice to the Office of the President asking it to furnish reasons for not accepting a nomination made by 12 political parties for the post of PM.

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.

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.

Further, Coordinator of the UDMF Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar said that Madheshi parties would not back Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai for new national consensus Government.

President Ram Baran Yadav further extended the deadline for political forces to reach an agreement on a common prime ministerial candidate and form a consensus Government by five days.

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.

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.

PM Baburam Bhattarai's political advisor Devendra Poudel said the PM will not step down if there is no package agreement between the major parties within the next five days.

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.

NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel warned to unseat the incumbent Government through the means of struggle.

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.

President Ram Baran Yadav assured the EC that constitutional and legal hurdles will be removed as soon as possible to conduct the new elections for CA by mid May.

President has summoned leaders from major political forces at his office on December 18 after, parties failed to find a consensus prime ministerial candidate to head an election Government.

NC leaders have concluded that PM Baburam Bhattarai is a major obstacle to political consensus.

PM set conditions to make way for a new Government, which include announcement of election date and participation of opposition parties into a national unity Government under him, at least for some time, before the handover of the Government leadership to the NC.

President Ram Baran Yadav gave political parties five more days (until December 22), to name a consensus candidate for premiership.

SSGSS a newly formed alliance of 11 ethnic parties and organizations, said fresh election to the Constituent Assembly would be unacceptable to the alliance.

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

Top leaders of the major political forces decided to take an alternative political course for nomination of the new PM.

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.

PM Baburam Bhattarai met President Ram Baran Yadav and asked the President not to believe the 'rumours' surrounding him, claiming that he was ready to cooperate with the ongoing efforts of parties to find a way out of the deadlock.

The NC vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel said his party would launch protest movement if the parties failed to arrive at an understanding on December 22.

UDMF to harden its stance against the opposition parties´ demand for immediate exit of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai.

Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai warned of retaliating against the opposition parties with ´politics of negation´ if they chose to do so to him.

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.

Further, leaders of major political parties said they will reach a deal on naming a consensus Prime Minister by deadline. Leaders of four political forces, who called on President Ram Baran Yadav, said that they were very close to reaching an agreement.