KATHMANDU: Ruling Nepali Congress (NC) who is in favor of endorsing the US grant Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has issued a ruling to its lawmakers to be present in the meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) today.

The HoR meeting is taking place at 1 pm.

According to NC whip Pushpa Bhusal, an SMS alert has been sent to all 59 lawmakers directing them to be present in the meeting. Out of total 63 lawmakers, two have been suspended while the other two are abroad receiving treatment.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has initiated talks with the main opposition CPN-UML after coalition parties CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN (Unified Socialist) have stood against the MCC.

UML has been advocating for the MCC compact even if has said that it would support motion only after its 14 lawmakers who defected to form Unified Socialist are penalized.

Similarly, Democratic Socialist Party (DSP) has also directed its lawmakers to be present in the House meeting today. A meeting of the DSP held yesterday decided to stand in favor of the MCC, according to lawmaker Chanda Chaudhary.

With NC, UML and DSP standing in favor of the MCC, a pressure has been piled on Maoist Center and  Unified Socialist on the issue of the MCC.