It is public knowledge that Babu Ram Bhattarai and Prachanda of the Nepal Communist Party (Maoists) have met many leaders of various political parties. Now it has come out in the open that the two Maoist leaders also met Prince Gyanendra recently.

The meeting between the prince and the two Maoists leaders has raised a lot of questions and suspicion in the minds of the people. This is mainly because the basis of that meeting, what was discussed and what conclusions were reached have not been clarified. According to sources this meeting took place very recently. Ramesh Nath Pandey, the royal nominee to the Upper House was also present at the meeting. It has been stated that a very high-ranking army officer was also present. It seems Pandey was the coordinator, the mediator.
"Why did a member of the royal household meet Maoists leaders?" is the question everyone is asking. Both parties agreed to keep the issues discussed at the meeting a secret. This has given rise to more suspicion.

Why are members of the Maoist organisation very keen to meet with members of the royal household? Almost a month ago, members of the Maoist party met with Pandey, who as mentioned earlier is the royal nominee to the Upper House. The meeting of the Maoists and Pandey was criticised by all. Now, after the meeting of Prince Gyanendra and the Maoists, there is more suspicion in the minds of the people.

At present both Prachanda and Bhattarai are in the capital. Rumour has it that they are very busy (meeting different people). Both leaders had earlier met CP Mainali of the Marxist-Leninist party, Prakash Nepal of the Unity Centre and Narayan Man Bijukchhee of the Nepal Workers and Peasants' Party. According to sources, it is expected that the two leaders will soon meet with leaders of the Samyukta Jana Morcha and the Nepal Communist Party (Masal). The Maoist leaders are meeting with the leaders of all left-leaning parties and others which is why rumours of all sorts are around. People know that the Maoists have met with many leaders, but they do not know what was discussed at the meetings. This lack of information is creating a bigger rift between these forces and the government too.