At a time when serious discussions are going on about a new power sharing, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma and Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairman Rajendra Lingden held a meeting on Tuesday. During the meeting held at the residence of Oli in Balkot, the duo discussed a new power sharing, future strategy and contemporary political issues among others. The UML and RPP had forged electoral alliances in some places.

Both Oli and Lingden were unanimously elected as the Parliamentary Party leader of their respective parties on Tuesday itself.

The UML intensified meetings with senior leaders of various political parties after President Bidya Devi Bhandari called upon the political parties to form a new government by December 25. Earlier on Tuesday morning, UML Vice-Chairman and former speaker Subash Chandra Nembang formally proposed CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to become the prime minister. A few days ago, the Maoist Center itself had formally proposed UML for the power sharing. Dahal, who had moved forward with a strategy to rout Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, had sent General Secretary Dev Gurung to Balkot making him his messenger. On the occasion, Gurung had sought Oli’s opinion on power sharing. Saying that the left alliance is essential to form a stable government in the country, Gurung had formally proposed for power sharing. With the response of the same proposal, Nembang had reached Khumaltar with the proposal of the prime minister. During the meeting, Nembang also put forth two conditions. The UML will take the post of president and not incorporate Madhav Kumar Nepal-led CPN (Unified Socialist) in the alliance. Nembang had also said that the UML will be flexible in sharing other posts also if the Maoist Center accepts the two conditions, a Khumaltar source said. “We are ready to accept you as the prime minister. You become the prime minister, we are ready to take the post of president,” a source said, quoting the dialogue of two leaders. “Other posts will be shared in consensus. Let’s take politics ahead through a new course to take the country towards the path of stability.” Deuba and Dahal have been staking claims for the post of prime minister in the ruling alliance. No party in the 275-member House of Representatives has 138 seats required to form the government. The Nepali Congress has emerged as the single largest party in the November 20 elections with 89 seats. The UML secured 78 seats. The CPN (Maoist Center) garnered 32 seats, Rastriya Swatantra Party 20, Rastriya Prajatantra Party 14, Janata Samajbadi Party 12, CPN (Unified Socialist) 10, Janamat Party 6, Democratic Socialist Party 4, Nagarik Unmukti Party 3, and Rastriya Janamorcha and Nepal Workers and Peasants Party won one seat each. Independent candidates got five seats.