KATHMANDU: The meeting between Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Unified Socialist Party Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal has stirred up the power dynamics in Nepal’s political landscape.

The two leaders held a meeting on Wednesday evening at a Nepali Congress leader’s residence in the wake of CPN-UML’s rejection of Dirgha Sodari as Chief Minister, which was subsequently challenged by the United Socialist Party’s decision to move forward with Sodari as their candidate.

The deadline for forming a government in Sudurpaschim Province by Provincial Head Nazir Miyan is set to expire today at 5 pm.

Sources indicate that the meeting explored the potential for forming alternative alliances, starting with a provincial government and possibly extending to Bagmati, Sudurpaschim, and Madhesh provinces.

Furthermore, there were discussions about the possible consequences for the central government if the Unified Socialist Party and the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) both withdraw from the current coalition.

If only the Unified Socialist depart, the central government will remain unaffected.

However, if both parties leave, the Prachanda-led government could lose its majority, reducing its support from 157 votes to 135 votes.

The meeting’s implications for Nepal’s political landscape could be substantial, with potential changes in alliances and shifts in power balances across various provinces and the central government.