KATHMANDU: Efforts to resolve the ongoing obstruction in the House of Representatives have intensified, as both the Speaker and opposition leaders have initiated discussions amid the deadlock triggered by demands for an investigation into the TIA visit visa scam and the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.

Speaker of the House of Representatives is currently holding a meeting at Singha Durbar with chief whips of the three major parties — Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN (Maoist Centre) —to seek a resolution to the prolonged parliamentary disruption.

Simultaneously, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Chairman of the main opposition party CPN (Maoist Centre), has called a meeting of opposition parties at 12 noon at the Parliament Building in New Baneshwar. The meeting aims to coordinate a common opposition strategy on the ongoing obstruction.

The opposition parties have been demanding the formation of a parliamentary probe committee into the visit visa scandal at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), where serious irregularities are alleged. They are also calling for the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, over the issue. However, the ruling coalition has so far shown no willingness to concede.

As a result, the House has remained deadlocked since Jestha 13 (May 27). Although the opposition did not obstruct the budget presentation on Jestha 15 (May 29), discussions on the budget have not progressed since then due to continued protests.

On Saturday, a meeting between Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Maoist Chair Prachanda discussed ways to end the deadlock. Prachanda is expected to brief opposition leaders today on the content of that dialogue with Deuba.