It is a good sign that the government and the main opposition CPN-UML have started coming closer to discuss matters related to the resumption of the House of Representatives (HoR), local level elections and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a US aid project. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba arranged a meeting with CPN-UML chairman KP Sharma Oli and CPN-Maoist Centre chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda at his official residence in Baluwatar on Sunday. It was for the first time Oli went to Baluwatar in order to hold a parley with the two top leaders of the ruling alliance since the former stepped down as the Prime Minister with the issuance of the historic Supreme Court verdict about seven months ago.

Prime Minister Deuba has remained effortful in taking the main opposition into confidence. As part of his effort, Deuba recently visited Oli's residence at Balkot and requested him to let the House run smoothly. It is good initiative that the leaders of ruling and opposition parties aired their views on the vital national matters in a frank and friendly manner. In a democracy, the opposition parties are supposed to play a constructive role in parliament for resolving the issues concerning the nation and the people. But contrary to this practice, the UML has been taking the people’s elected institution hostage for months. Consequently, many important bills have been pending.

Once the HoR resumes, the bills stuck in the federal parliament are sure to get through soon. It is also essential for the government and the main opposition to reach an understanding to hold the local level lections within a stipulated timeframe in a free and fair manner. The government Monday announced to hold the local polls on May 13, 2022 and has asked the Election Commission to start making all necessary preparations for the elections. The local polls hold much significance for strengthening grassroots democracy. The UML has also been piling pressure on the government to declare the date for the local level elections at the earliest.

Although the three top leaders-- Deuba, Oli and Prachanda-- have not reached any deal to move the MCC issue forward, they have delved into it seriously. In 2017, Nepal and the MCC had signed an agreement to implement a US$ 630 million compact ($500 million from the MCC and $130 million from Nepal), to build mega power transmission lines, including Butwal-Gorakhpur cross-border transmission facility, and rehabilitate some strategic roads. The US grant project was supposed to come into force since July 30, 2020 following its endorsement by parliament. But the project has been left in limbo in the absence of consensus among the political parties.
The MCC has time and again clarified that the grant compact is purely a development project aimed at boosting Nepal's infrastructure. It is grant assistance and not a loan. The US government has stated that the MCC compact has nothing to do with its Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) or any military deals. But the pact is yet to be endorsed by the parliament. The ongoing debate regarding this issue needs to converge at a common point that is in favour of the nation. The frank talks that have been initiated at the top political level should be seen as positive because this will help to end a situation of uncertainty.