Even as President Ram Baran Yadav on Friday set in motion new government formation—giving the parties a week to elect a new prime minister in consensus, leaders from three major forces negotiating a power-sharing deal are already downplaying the prospects of a unity government.

Both of the two largest parties in the current coalition, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, seem reluctant to be part of a government led by the other party.

While UML leaders have repeatedly spoken of a gentlemen’s agreement for a government led by the party after constitution promulgation, second-rung leaders in the NC deny any agreement in public—leading many to speculate that the party wants to reclaim the government leadership.

Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat on Saturday told the Post that he had no knowledge of a gentlemen’s agreement and that the NC was open to leading the government again.

Some NC leaders have even started arguing for a government headed by their party on the ground that it had a major contribution to the promulgation of the new constitution and that it could take the major parties on board now.

Expressing dismay at the efforts to stop their Chairman KP Oli from holding the top position, UML leaders said the party would try to form a majority government.

They said the UML would “mobilise all its strength” to form a majority government if the NC violated the “understanding”.

“Our sole aim is to elect the party chairman as the new PM,” said UML Deputy General Secretary Ghanshyam Bhusal.

Addressing party cadres on Saturday, Oli spoke of efforts to bar him from the high office. “The UML took a lead in constitution-writing and it will now lead development works in a new era,” said a resolute Oli. “We will foil all bids to stop us.”

The UML believes that the largest party remains divided over allowing it to lead the next government. Many suspect Prime Minister Koirala of playing cards close to his chest by not stepping down.

Koirala was expected on Friday to resign to make way for a new government but he made no mention of his resignation in his address in Parliament. He only called on the President to begin the process to form the next government. Linked to this is Koirala’s insistence to push through constitution amendments to address the demands of the disgruntled parties.