The monsoon session of Parliament started on Tuesday, but it seems a storm is already brewing in the ruling coalition.

Amid the main opposition Nepali Congress’s warnings to initiate no-confidence motion and lodge adjournment motion, the UCPN (Maoist), the key coalition partner in the government, is likely to take a decision that its ruling partner CPN-UML may find unpalatable. 

A meeting of senior Maoist leaders held at the residence of party Secretary General Krishna Bahadur Mahara on Tuesday decided to seriously raise four issues with the UML, which the leaders say will be “nearly-decisive talks with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli”.

The party has decided to discuss issues related to war-era cases, government’s apathy and insensitivity towards addressing concerns raised by Madhes-based parties, government’s failure to speed up reconstruction and government’s inaction when it comes to curbing corruption and black-marketeering. 

As far as war-era cases are concerned, the Maoists are of the view that they should be solely dealt with by the transitional justice mechanisms and not by regular courts. The UCPN (Maoist) is miffed at PM Oli for not intervening in the matter. 

Top Maoist leaders on Tuesday evening called on PM Oli with the four-point agenda and drew his attention to the commitments he had made before the UCPN (Maoist) extended its support to the UML to form the government under him. 

Senior leaders from both parties were present in the meeting. 

We cannot shoulder UML and Oli forever, Maoist Secretary Barshaman Pun said at a function in Kathmandu. “The government has failed to address grievances and expectations of the people,” he said. “If the PM does not change his working style, the UCPN (Maoist) will quit the government.” 

According to Pun, the standing committee of party has already decided to seek alternative to the Oli government.