KATHMANDU, Feb 22: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has solicited support of the main opposition party, CPN-UML, to ratify Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant agreement through parliament.

During a meeting held at his official residence in Baluwatar with UML Chairman K P Oli on Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Deuba, who is also Nepali Congress (NC) President, repeated his request to help ratify the MCC grant agreement. Oli was accompanied by the party's Senior Vice Chairman Ishwar Pokharel, Vice Chairman Bishnu Prasad Poudel and Deputy General Secretary Bishnu Rimal. 

On his part, Oli had reminded Prime Minister Deuba that his party is staging protest in parliament to meet its genuine demands and that his party won't be able to take part in the parliamentary process unless those demands are addressed, according UML Central Committee Member Bishnu Rijal. 

Deuba has stepped up negotiations with the opposition parties after the ruling CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN (Unified Socialist) announced that they would vote against the MCC grant agreement in parliament. Sources said Oli has demanded relieving Speaker Agni Sapkota from the post of speaker and taking action against 14 lawmakers dismissed by the UML earlier. 

 
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