Vice-Chairman of the UCPN-Maoist, Mohan Baidya, has said the Maoist’s priority would now be to stay in the opposition rather than forming the new government.

Speaking at an interaction organised in Kathmandu by the Janasanchar Abhiyan on Sunday, Vice-Chairman Baidya said, “There is a possibility that we may take the opposition seats as there is little chance that we will get to form the government.” The Maoists will not join a Nepali Congress or CPN-UML led government.

However, he added that the NC or the CPN-UML will have to fulfill conditions, addressing the demand of the people, to get the prime minister’s chair. Baidya urged the NC and the CPN-UML to be more serious to end the political deadlock and asserted that a discussion for consensus could take place if NC’s Ram Chandra Poudel withdrew his candidacy.

Agreements would first be made on prime ministerial issues and then the new government’s budget. Baidya warned of protest if the present government announced a new budget.

Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal contested for the post of the prime minister till the seventh round of election and then withdrew.