As time ticks on the timeframe handed by Speaker Onasari Gharti to three major parties to end the current impasse in Parliament, resuming House business appears to be a tough nut to crack as formal talks between the government and the main opposition have yet to start.

According to CPN-UML leaders, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is yet to talk to them since they parted ways after a meeting with Speaker Gharti on Monday. They accused the ruling coalition of the Nepali Congress and the CPN Maoist (Centre) of being indifferent towards ending the House deadlock.

UML deputy Parliamentary Party leader Subas Nembang said the PM has not invited them for talks. “He is rather busy accusing us of blocking everything by obstructing Parliament. If he was sincere about resuming the House proceedings, would he not call us for talks?” Nembang asked.

Maoist Centre leader Hitraj Pandey said he was hopeful of a solution by Thursday, the deadline served by the Speaker. According to the minister for local development, the government was preparing to announce the date for local polls.

Once the Local Level Restructuring Commission submits its report, the dates will be approved possibly for April to hold the elections in the new structure, said Pandey. Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat said they have urged the main opposition to allow deliberations on all the issues—impeachment motion against Lokman Singh Karki, the suspended chief of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority; election-related bills; and the constitution amendment bill—in Parliament in return for the poll date announcement.

“We want them to understand that local polls were not possible until we amend the constitution to gain the confidence of the Madhes-based forces. Considering the urgency, we have asked them to at least allow the constitution amendment bill to be put to a vote,” said Mahat.

The UML has been obstructing Parliament in protest against the statute amendment bill registered by the government on November 29. Speaker Gharti put the amendment bill on the House agenda on Monday, before the opposition resorted to obstructing the House proceedings for the sixth time in three weeks.

Nembang, however, questioned the commitment of the government to holding the polls. “Since NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba says local polls will be held in the existing structure and PM Dahal claims to conduct them in the new structure, we doubt if the ruling coalition really wants elections,” said the former Speaker.