The UCPN (Maoist) is still trying to woo the Madhesi alliance for the third round election for the post of prime minister, scheduled to be held at 4pm Monday.

If the Madhesi alliance stays neutral again, the voting will not produce a result, like the last two times. The alliance is still undecided on whether to vote or stay neutral, as both the Maoists and the NC rejected one of their most important demands: the demand for a Madhes Prades with the right to self-determination.

While the Madhesi alliance’s votes will be sufficient for the Maoists to win, if they decide to vote for the NC, the latter will still require the votes of the UML to win. As of now, the UML is sticking to its decision to stay neutral until there is a consensus for a national unity government. UML chair Jhalanath Khanal’s candidacy was withdrawn as it failed to garner the support of two thirds of MPs prior to the first election, leaving Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and NC Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel in the fray.

The Maoists will try everything to convince the alliance, but their demands, such as a One Madhes Prades, autonomy with self-determination, and en masse entry of Madhesi people into the Nepal Army, are constitutional issues rather than political bargaining tools, say political observers. But the horse-trading has as much to do with ministerial portfolios in the new government as Madhesi issues.

The previous two elections, held on July 21 and 23, failed to elect a prime minister as the UML and the Madhesi alliance stayed neutral. If the third round fails to elect a prime minister, there will be further elections until a result is arrived at, unless the relevant parliamentary regulations are amended.