A meeting convened by the Speaker of the House of Representatives with the chief whips of the three main political parties failed to find any wayout on ending a prolonged legislative deadlock, as opposition and ruling parties stuck to their positions over a scandal involving the home minister.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire on Sunday held talks with chief whip Shyam Kumar Ghimire of the Nepali Congress, Mahesh Kumar Bartaula of the CPN-UML, and Hitraj Pandey of the CPN (Maoist Centre), the main opposition at Parliament, to resolve the obstruction that has paralysed House proceedings.

The talks ended without a breakthrough.

“The opposition has not given a clear position on allowing the House to function,” said Congress Chief Whip Ghimire. “If they cooperate, the House will run smoothly. If not, it may be uncomfortable, but Parliament will move forward from today.”

Bartaula of the UML said his party no longer supported adjourning meetings in the name of seeking consensus. “Earlier, the opposition leader requested deferrals to build an agreement, and we complied. But that ends today. The budget discussion will begin,” he told reporters.

Opposition lawmakers have repeatedly obstructed Parliament, demanding an investigation into allegations that Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak was involved in irregularities in travel on visit visas.

The disruption has affected deliberations on the government’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The Speaker had called Sunday’s meeting in an attempt to resume parliamentary proceedings and begin formal discussions on the national budget.

Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel presented the government’s annual budget on May 29 but the House of Representatives has not conducted any deliberations over the budget.

A meeting of the lower House was scheduled for 1 pm but has yet to begin.