Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who does not seem to be in the mood to oblige to the request of “stepping down graciously” to pave the way for a new government, seems to be looking for a “larger deal” among parties for a “political exit”.

According to senior leaders, PM Oli and his party, the CPN-UML, are in a bid to ink a “larger political deal” with the Nepali Congress, the CPN (Maoist Centre) and other political parties before Parliament votes on the no-confidence motion against him.

The “larger political deal” would mean understandings on budget endorsement before the House votes on the no-trust motion, post-quake reconstruction, implementation of the pacts signed with India and China and constitution implementation, say the leaders.

While the UML has been harping on “constitutional complexities” to make it a point that there is no provision to elect a new prime minister, the party feels that the same “complexities” could be used [by other parties] to prolong the tenure of the subsequent government.

In the event of a new government continuing beyond the term of current Parliament, which ends in January 2018, the UML fears the deals and appointments made by the Oli government could be null and void.

If the two major parties, which have brought the no-trust motion against PM Oli, fail to offer concessions, it would mean taking the path of confrontation, the party leaders say.

A meeting of the Standing Committee of the UML on Tuesday dwelt on seeking consensus with other parties to avoid confrontation. The meeting also reiterated the UML’s position that PM Oli would face Parliament and that he would not resign before voting on the no-confidence motion.  As of now, discussion on the motion has been scheduled for Thursday, to which the UML has taken serious exception, saying three subsidiary bills related to the budget should be discussed first. 

“There is a need of a larger understanding among parties,” said UML leader Pradip Gyawali. “But much depends on whether the NC and Maoists want to reach an amicable accommodation.”

Gyawali added that “the other side” needs to refrain from drawing the President into controversy and take forward the parliamentary hearing process of judicial and other appointments.

Party leaders hope that once Parliament resumes on Thursday to discuss the no-confidence motion and other regular business, a fresh round of political negotiations will begin.

“The business of the budget should be discussed ahead of the no-trust vote,” said UML Standing Committee member Chhabilal Bishwokarma. “Once the budget is approved, we have to find ways to form the next government as constitutional provisions are not clear. We want to discuss ways to devise a clear-cut political and constitutional roadmap to steer clear of uncertainty,” Bishwokarma said.

PM Oli is said to have raised the issue of amendment to the constitution before paving the way for the formation of new government during his meeting with NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Majority of the UML leaders who spoke during Tuesday’s meeting stressed that the budget should be made the priority business of the House.  The meeting also urged senior party leaders, including party Chairman and PM Oli, not to make provocative statements against the NC and the Maoists.