KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 25

With the deadline for forming a government fast approaching, leaders of major political parties are running around with last-minute offers, counter-offers, breaking existing alliances, forming new alliances and forging new deals.

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has given the parties time until today to form a post-election government, after which major parties such as the Nepali Congress, CPN (UML), CPN (Maoist Centre), CPN (Unified Socialist), Rastriya Janamorcha, and new entrant Rastriya Swatantra Party have been engaged in a flurry of activities.

This frenzy of meetings and deals has continued until now, with only a few hours left for political parties to reach an agreement on government formation.

The deadline is ending at 5:00 p.m.

This is what has occurred thus far today:

The three-party alliance met in Baluwatar to confirm their previous agreement in the coalition.

The alliance agreed that NC and CPN(MC) would serve two two-year terms, while CPN(UC) would serve one year of the five-year term.

However, after a disagreement over who should be the Prime Minister for the first term, CPN (MC) chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal abruptly left the meeting and rushed to Balkot to meet with former Prime Minister and CPN (UML) chair KP Sharma Oli.

Similarly, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chair Rajendra Lingden and Oli met in Balkot and had discussion on the current political situation.

Likewise, Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane, along with Janata Samajbadi Party leader Ashok Rai, paid visit to Oli in Balkot, fueling speculation of an alliance between the CPN (MC), CPN (UML), RPP, JSP, and RSP. After their arrival, RPP leader Lingden left Balkot.