February 16: The House of Representatives meeting is scheduled to be held today (February 16) after being deferred twice in recent days. The chances of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant agreement being tabled in the parliament meeting has increased considerably after the Nepali Congress decided to seek a resolution through parliament. Speaker of the House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota is also positive about seeking a solution to the current impasse through the House meeting.

However, political parties are yet to reach a common understanding to endorse the disputed grant assistance through parliament. The ruling Nepali Congress has decided to ratify the MCC but the other two coalition partners – CPN Maoist Centre and CPN Unified Socialist – are yet to take a concrete decision regarding the issue.

Both the parties have summoned their parliamentary party meeting ahead of the House session on Wednesday to discuss the matter. Both Maoist Centre and CPN Unified Socialist are not in favour of endorsing the MCC grant agreement without amendment. If the Nepali Congress tables the agenda during today’s meeting without amendment, the two parties will not oppose the registration of the MCC but have decided not to cast vote in its favour.

If the MCC grant agreement is not endorsed by the parliament, the government will come under moral crisis.

The main opposition party CPN UML is likely to obstruct the ratification process demanding action against their former MPs who defected to the CPN Unified Socialist.

UML whip Bishal Bhattarai informed that the party will not support the government in endorsing the MCC grant agreement because the ruling alliance did not discuss the issue with the main opposition party before deciding to present it in parliament.

“Our demands have not been fulfilled to resume the House procceedings. Our protest in parliament will continue,” said Bhattarai.

Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa is hopeful that the MCC agenda will be tabled in parliament. A parliamentary party meeting of Nepali Congress on Tuesday has already decided to present the MCC in parliament for ratification. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said that Nepali Congress will fulfil its duty and not act irresponsibly like the erstwhile government led by CPN UML which decided to present the MCC agenda in parliament but has been obstructing the house proceedings itself, Thapa said quoting the prime minister.

Speaker Sapkota has called for the Business Advisory Committee of the House of Representatives at 11 am ahead of the 10^th session of parliament scheduled for 1 pm in the afternoon. The Business Advisory Committee meeting is expected to include the MCC agenda for the business list of HoR meeting.