KATHMANDU, Sept 9: A meeting of the top leaders of the ruling parties is currently underway at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence in Baluwatar. Sources said the meeting has been organized to forge consensus among the ruling parties to endorse the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement through parliament.

Nepali Congress (NC) President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal and Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Chairman Upendra Yadav, among other leaders, are participating in the meeting. 

The meeting comes amid differing views held by the ruling parties on whether to endorse the MCC agreement through parliament. While NC has stood in favor of endorsing the agreement without any further delay, the Nepal-led CPN (Unified Socialist) and Dahal-led Maoist Center have demanded amendments to the agreement. Sources said the meeting has been held to discuss further about the clarifications given by the MCC on various provisions that are deemed controversial in Nepal.  

Leaders close to Prime Minister Deuba said the meeting is an attempt by Prime Minister Deuba to bring all coalition partners on the same page on issues regarding the MCC. The visiting MCC Vice Chairman Fatima Sumar is holding a meeting with Prime Minister Deuba on Friday to learn about Nepal’s final decision. 

The ruling coalition is under pressure following the arrival of MCC Vice President Sumar in Kathmandu earlier today. US officials have said that the US cannot wait indefinitely for Nepal to endorse the agreement through parliament and expedite implementation of the projects Nepal and US agreed upon in the past.  

 
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