KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has intensified talks with the leaders of political parties to garner their support to endorse the US grant millennium challenge corporation (MCC), of late.

Prime Minister Deuba, who met with CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday evening, has met with ruling partner CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda this morning.

During the meeting convened at Prachanda’s residence in Khumaltar, Deuba has urged Prachanda to pass the MCC which is already tabled in the Parliament.

Sources at Khumaltar have said that Deuba during the meeting asked Prachanda not to stand against the MCC even if he did not vote for it. In response, Prachanda has said that his party would not vote in favor of the MCC as it has already expressed its disagreement in writing.

“Maoist Center has yet to decide where to vote against the MCC or abstain from the House meeting to show disagreement on it,” said Prachanda.

Ruling coalition parties Maoist Center and CPN (Unified Socialist) have already decided not to vote in favor of the MCC.

Prime Minister Deuba on Tuesday evening met with CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and asked for his support after no agreement was reached with coalition partners.

In response, Oli said his party would not extend support to endorse the MCC unless its demands are addressed.

UML has been demanding action against its 14 lawmakers including senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal who defected to form CPN (Unified Socialist).