Sapkota, who faces a murder charge for an insurgency-era killing, has been proposed for House Speaker by the ruling party.

The decision ends month-long negotiations over the post of House Speaker, but Sapkota’s name could court controversy, as he faces a murder charge.

Oli has become more flexible on the candidate for Speaker and has agreed to Dahal’s choice, party insiders say.

The city of Bhaktapur, ruled for over three decades by Narayan Man Bijukchhe, has long stressed self-reliance over everything, and everyone else.

With both NCP chairs not giving up on their candidates for Speaker of the House, party leaders are afraid the issue could snowball.

By imposing decisions on elected officials, who are the representatives of the people, the ruling party is ruining democratic principles, analysts and party insiders say.

Even within the ruling party, some leaders have been raising voices against the bill.

While the Speaker’s post is a bone of contention, the party is split deeper over the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Nepal compact.

The Nepal Communist Party’s diktat concerning the name and capital of the province has been criticised by provincial assembly members for infringing on the spirit of federalism.

The crucial meeting decided for tomorrow by the recently concluded Standing Committee has been postponed to January 23.

Although the government has now pledged to make sugar mills pay farmers their dues, analysts are sceptical whether the agreement will be followed through.

The Maoists are already a minority in Nepal Communist Party as they had merged with 40 percent share in committees.

The party leadership failed to live up to its recent commitment to following due process, accuse leaders.

If the Maoist faction of the ruling party lets go of House Speaker, all of the highest-ranking state officials will be from the former UML.

Major happenings of the year put the ruling Communist Party at the centre of attention, often exposing the limitations of even an all-powerful government.