February 3: The government has taken decisive steps to ratify the US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has taken the initiative to move ahead with the US grant agreement. Stating that it is the responsibility of the parliament whether to approve the MCC, he has taken the initiative to move the process forward immediately.

In the last one week, there has been intense discussion about MCC within the coalition government led by PM Deuba. But instead of reaching a consensus among the coalition partners, differences over the MCC continue to escalate. The gap has widened due to the stand taken by other parties within the alliance except for the Nepali Congress that the MCC cannot be passed in tis current form without amendment.

According to a source close to Deuba, the prime minister is planning to pass the MCC by the end of February. "The prime minister has informed the US official that a decision on the MCC will be taken by the parliament by February 28. So he has taken a decisive steps," the source said requesting anonymity

The prime minister has also tried to persuade top leaders within the coalition government to approve the MCC. Discussion is ongoing between Congress President and Prime Minister Deuba, CPN-Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and CPN-Unified Socialist Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal after a dispute arose within the alliance regarding the MCC.

CPN (MC) Chairman Dahal and CPN (US) Chairman Nepal had reached the PM's residence in Baluwatar on Wednesday morning to meet Prime Minister Deuba to discuss the matter. During the meeting, the leaders said that Deuba wanted to pass the MCC without breaking the alliance.

They said that the PM has asked for suggestions to improve the MCC. Speaking at a party function after the meeting, CPN (US) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal said, "The PM is working to get the MCC passed by taking the coalition partners into confidence.”

It has been learnt that PM Deuba is likely to seek support from the UML to pass the MCC if the other ruling parties do not agree to endorse the MCC. That is the reason why the CPN-Maoist Center and the CPN Unified Socialist party have become suspicious lately.

NC leaders Purna Bahadur Khadka and Gyanendra Bahadur Karki had reached Khumaltar for a dialogue with CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Dahal to bring the ruling coalition to an agreement.

On the other hand, Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand had reached the residence of Madav Nepal at Koteshwor as the envoy of Prime Minister Deuba.