The palace has been using all kinds of tricks to jeopardise the understanding between the Maoists and the seven parties. This is evident by the appearance of former negotiators like Narayan Singh Pun in the council of ministers. As a former go-between for the government and Maoists, Pun has kept in touch with Maoist leaders. It is obvious that he will be used to renew those contacts in order to provoke the Maoists to axe their pact with the parties. Ever since the rebels and parties united to attack the palace, the king has been looking for a way to break this political alliance. He found a solution by appointing Pun, along with Kamal Thapa and Badri Prasad Mandal, as ministers. With this team, the palace is preparing to set up a high-level government delegation to talk with the rebels. Powerful figures in the palace are saying that the Maoists have already given up their demand for a republican system and that the only way to sustain the king's powers is by breaking the rebel-party agreement. They believe that will be quite simple if the government can reach a level of understanding with the Maoists. But the question is, what does the king have to offer to the Maoists, when key palace figures like Satchit Shamsher, Tulsi Giri and Kirtinidhi Bista have already condemned the constituent assembly demand.