Even as Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal goes on reiterating on enhancing greater understanding among the political parties, the Council of Ministers is yet to get the full form which is the pre-condition for the government to work to its best of capacity. This situation shows a rather unfortunate standing when, despite the support of the required strength from the coalition partners, the full swing ahead has not been coming yet. There is no doubt of the greed among the supporting political parties for the so-called plum ministerial berths

that has marred the show. Even then, the rhetoric is always on getting the peace process to the desired fruition and the statute readied within the deadline. With the House business stalled, the signs are not optimistic by any standard. This raises the question as how PM Nepal will tackle the challenges that

lie across his path within the shortest possible time

to meet the deadline of the many important tasks of national importance.

Joining hands with the Nepali Congress (NC)

was a move basically to fill the vacuum after the Maoist-led government quit. It was an opportunity to prove that inactivity would not be the hallmark without the largest CA party. But, the signs are somewhat worrying. This must have made the CPN-UML initiate extensive parleys with the Maoists, knowing well that the they are not very flexible on the issue that they have raised to be the basis for letting the House run smoothly. Despite a number of such meets, there have been no signs of any progress except for the mention of "positive progress". It all hinges on certain wording in the address that PM Nepal will be delivering to the House some time soon. The

insistence of the Maoists revolves on their own definition of civil supremacy rather than one which can satisfy the other political parties. The present government should not prove weak but stand its ground on issues that the Maoists want to push through at any cost to the detriment of the national interest.

It is true that national consensus is the basis

on which decisions have to be taken. Well aware of this, the Maoists are creating hurdles. In this respect, knowing very well that the rhetoric of "national

unity government" strikes the chord, the Maoists have been unrelentingly harping on this issue

which no other party can disagree upon. But, the reality is that the Maoists, as reported, have more than the national interest to serve, and it is their stated goal. The alliance parties acknowledge the pitfalls for the present government, but if they focus more on the power-sharing issues rather than on how to keep the coalition intact then the positive lining may fade away. Of course, the efforts to get the House activity resume must be given uppermost priority, but without getting the tacit green signal from the Maoists, it may not be possible. By not allowing the House meets to take place, the Maoists have only strengthened the belief that they do not want the statute to be framed within the set deadline. This is tragic when considering the fact that, besides other tasks, the constitution writing process must

receive the topmost precedence from every party shedding their petty partisan interests.