Three top leaders of the ruling coalition have resumed discussions as the country’s politics remains highly charged up, especially over the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a $500 million US grant after Washington conveyed warning messages to Nepal pressing for its ratification.

Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN (Unified Socialist) chair Madhav Kumar Nepal, the two opposers of the US grant,

have reached Baluwatar to hold discussions with the Prime Minister and Nepali Congress Presume Sher Bahadur Deuba.

“Three leaders have started discussions at Baluwatar focussing on MCC,” said Ramesh Malla, chief personal secretary of Dahal. “This is part of efforts to forge consensus on how to deal with the MCC compact.”

After US warnings that it could consider recalibrating ties with Nepal if Nepali politicians fail to ratify the MCC compact by February 28, Deuba appears firm on putting the grant agreement to vote in Parliament even at the cost of the coalition breakup. Deuba has been in consultations with the main opposition CPN-UML.

The Maoist Centre and the CPN (Unified Socialist) still want to delay MCC ratification but want the alliance to continue.

Bhanu Deuba, chief personal secretary of Prime Minister Deuba, said the leaders will dwell on various contemporary issues.

“But the MCC compact of course is a key issue,” he told the Post.