KATHMANDU: Minister for Information and Communication Shankar Pokharel on Sunday said that the government is strong enough to face a no confidence motion if it is tabled by the UCPN-Maoist in the parliament.

For the past few days there has been increasing speculation in the political arena about the UCPN-M’s preparations to topple the government by tabling a no confidence motion against the government in a special session of the parliament.

Speaking to journalists after the Cabinet meeting, Minister Pokharel who is also the spokesperson of the government said, “The government is ready to face a no confidence motion in the parliament if the UCPN-M tables it.”

The UCPN-M had started the ground work to call a special session of the parliament after its parleys on forming a national unity government proved futile. With the purpose of calling the special session of the parliament, the UCPNM has directed all its CA members to remain in the capital. It has also summoned the CA members outside the valley to the capital at the earliest.

The UCPN-M is allegedly planning to topple the government with the support of Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF), CPN-Unified, CPN-United and some dissident CA members of the CPN-UML, a source said, adding that some CA members of the ruling MJF-Democratic have assured the UCPN-M of their support in toppling the government.

It has been learnt that the UCPNM will discuss the issue of tabling the no confidence motion against the government in the standing committee meeting later this evening.