The CPN (Maoist Centre) has warned its main governing partner, the CPN-UML, of creating obstruction in the budget passage if its concerns are not addressed.

Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday held talks with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and raised three issues, according to Jhak Bhadaur Mahara, personal aide to Dahal,.

According to Mahara, Dahal told PM Oli that his party “is immensely concerned about the formation of national unity government where at least three major political parties should come together”.

Concerns raised by the Maoists regarding the budget and implementation of the nine-point agreement signed between the CPN-UML and Maoist Centre in May were other issues that were discussed, said Mahara.

The Maoist Centre is also considering pulling out of the coalition if the party’s demands are not met,” said Mahara, adding that “the party is mulling several options”.

Dahal of late has been reaching out to Nepali Congress leaders. But in the meantime, UML leaders too are in negotiations with some NC leaders. The recent developments, some say, could once again put the largest party in the centre stage.

If the UML agrees to Maoist proposal on formation of national unity government, the Maoist Centre will let the budget pass, said sources. “If there is no understanding with the UML on budget, nine-point agreement and national unity government, a completely new situation could arise,” sources added, hinting at the possibility of the Maoist Centre pulling out of the left coalition.

Some UML leaders had reached out to NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba recently to discuss the situation in the event of Maoist Centre’s decision to pull out of incumbent coalition, said leaders familiar to the development.

The politburo meeting of the Maoist Centre, which concluded on Thursday, had decided to make “maximum efforts to forge consensus”.

But if that does not happen in a few days, according to the party, it would make a new alignment with a party that “it finds closer to its agendas”