Prime minister Baburam Bhattarai made attempts to hold dialogue with Congress and UML who had not sat down for talks after the government did not withdraw the decision of the Council of Ministers. When there was no possibility of three-party talks, prime minister Bhattarai, UCPN (M) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Congress vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel, and UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal met on the sidelines of the meeting of the Constitutional Committee at Singha Durbar. In the meeting, Prime Minister Bhattarai expressed commitment not to implement the government decision to legalise the land transactions carried out by the Maoist people’s government during the conflict. He asked them to sit for talks to take the peace and constitution-drafting process forward. Congress leader Paudel stated the condition for talks would be the withdrawal of the government decision.

Prime Minister Bhattarai went to meet UML leader KP Sharma Oli at his residence in Balkot of Bhaktapur to create a favourable environment for talks. He called Congress president Koirala asking him to create environment to run the obstructed parliament, assuring him that he will not implement the decision of the Council of Ministers. He also asked for help in peace process and constitution-drafting. The prime minister tried to hold a meeting of UCPN (M), Congress, and UML to resolve the land-transaction issue and to focus on the peace process and constitution-drafting. The meeting could not take place after Congress and UML put the condition that the decision of the Council of Ministers should be withdrawn first.

When the government, UCPN (M), Congress, and UML were not able to come to consensus, UDMF held its meeting and decided to suggest the prime minister to withdraw the decision of the Council of Ministers, and met the prime minister. Then the prime minster Bhattarai met Congress president Sushil Koirala and asked him to run the obstructed parliament proceedings and create an environment for talks. There was a meeting of the prime minister and senior leaders of UCPN (M), Congress, and UML at the residence of Congress leader Ram Chandra Paudel at Boharatar. They leaders agreed that there is no alternative to seek consensus through talks and to carry the peace and constitution-drafting process forward. In the meeting, Congress and UML leaders took a stand that the decision to legalise the land transaction by the Maoist people’s government during the conflict should be withdrawn.

Then, a meeting between UCPN (M) and UDMF leaders held a meeting at the prime minister’s residence in Baluwatar. They agreed to review the decision of the Council of Ministers and decided to hold talks with Congress and UML before reviewing the decision. The next day, a meeting of the officials of UCPN (M) took place, which suggested the government not to withdraw the decision of the Council of Ministers. In a meeting of UCPN (M), Congress, and UML the same day, the parties stuck to their own stance. UCPN (M) stated that the decision would be withdrawn and Congress and UML said the talks would not move forward unless it was withdrawn. Congress and UML leaders accused Prime Minister Bhattarai of changing his tune.

The disputes in the constitution-drafting process also could not be resolved due to the disagreement among the parties. After the political parties failed to endorse all the outstanding issues from the Constitutional Committee expect on state restructuring and submit to the Constituent Assembly, the parties started work on the amendment of the calendar under CA chairperson Subash Nemwang. In the morning January 29, there was discussion between senior leader of UCPN (M), Congress, UML, and UDMF; among the 33 parties represented in the CA; and in the evening, UCPN (M) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Congress vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel, UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, and CA chairperson Subash Nemwang. The leaders agreed to amend the CA calendar of events. However, the parliament remained obstructed as there was no agreement among the parties.

In the meantime, Army Integration Special Committee took the decision to start the process of discharging those Maoist combatants opting for voluntary retirement and rehabilitation in three days. The State Restructuring Commission could not submit it report to the government within the stipulated timeframe.

Major Developments