A new ‘political deal’ sealed between Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Chairman of the CPN-UML KP Oli at midnight on July 2 at the residence of a businessperson has been kept secret, sparking curiosity about its content and authenticity.

While leaders of the Nepali Congress and the UML have disclosed most details of the deal, the original document has yet to be released, which has raised questions.

Other parties in the House of Representatives have also shown an interest in seeing the original document.

But the Congress and UML leaders have said that there is no reason to hide or keep secret the deal signed by the two party leaders, but the signatories may be looking for an appropriate time.

“I don’t see any technical reason to keep the deal under wraps,” said Pradeep Gyawali, deputy secretary general of the UML. “Various stakeholders may be curious about it, but it will eventually be disclosed, at the right time.”

Oli had informed his party leaders at a meeting that he had struck a seven-point deal with Deuba. “Most of the content of the deal is already out. There is nothing new to add,” said Gyawali.

UML General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel and Congress leaders Ramesh Lekhak, Arzu Rana and Gyanendra Bahadur Karki were involved in finalising the agreement.

Lawmakers from the CPN (Maoist Centre) and the Rastriya Swatantra Party, among others, have been demanding a copy of the deal and urging the Congress and the UML to produce it in Parliament as the deal involves serious issues like amending the constitution. But the leaders of the two parties have remained silent, again asserting that the deal will be disclosed at an appropriate time.

On Saturday, a parliamentary party meeting of the Nepali Congress gave some clues of the said deal between Deuba and Oli.

The meeting affirmed that a new national government will be formed in accordance with Article 76 (2) of the constitution as per the spirit of the agreement reached between the two largest parties last Monday. The meeting also endorsed the deal.

As per the understanding between the Congress and the UML, Oli will lead a new ‘national consensus government’ for a year and a half. For the remaining term, Deuba will be the prime minister.

Deuba and Oli also agreed on power-sharing and proposed constitutional amendments including a review of the electoral system, proportional representation, changes to the composition of the National Assembly, and discussion on the size of provincial assemblies.

Min Bishwakarma, head of the Nepali Congress publicity department, said the seven-point deal will be made public in the House of Representatives and he called for the formation of a new government based on the national consensus.

Before the formation of a new government under Oli’s leadership, incumbent Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who has already lost the majority support and now serves in a caretaker capacity, will face a floor test on Friday.

He will certainly fail to get the majority vote, paving the way for President Ram Chandra Poudel to start the process for the formation of a new government.

In the 275-strong House of Representatives, Dahal needs the support of 138 lawmakers to win the trust vote, but he currently has the backing of only 73 lawmakers—32 from the CPN (Maoist Centre), 21 from the Rastriya Swatantra Party and 10 from the CPN (Unified Socialist). The Janamat Party, with six members, and the Nagarik Unmukti Party, with four lawmakers, also support him.

As per an initial power-sharing deal, the Congress will lead 10 ministries, including home, and the UML nine, including finance. Likewise, the Congress and the UML will lead three provincial governments each, with the government in Madhesh to be led by the CK Raut-led Janamat Party.

The deal will be tabled in the House of Representatives, said Ram Hari Khatiwada, a Nepali Congress lawmaker.