The ruling alliance and the opposition discussed the budget and the new election at a joint-meeting on Tuesday but could not come to agreement on either topic.

After the meeting, UCPN(M) spokesperson said all party leaders stood firm on their previous stances and therefore nothing was agreed upon. The Maoists are keen on reviving the Constituent Assembly while the NC and UML want new elections.

The opposition is also against the ruling faction’s plans to pass a full sized budget through an ordinance. NC deputy chairperson Ram Chandra Paudel said the meeting ended prematurely after the ruling faction brought this up.