With parties failing to reach consensus on formation of a national unity government within deadline yet again, Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav extended the time limit further on Thursday.
Following a meeting with leaders of four major parties at his official residence, Yadav gave
them five more days and set December 17 as the fresh deadline for agreement on a prime minister through consensus.
"Acting on request by the parties for extension of the earlier time limit, the President gave them five more days," said Hari Kumar Shrestha, spokesperson for the President's office.
Though there has been no progress on the ground, leaders of the four parties assured that a package agreement on all issues would be reached within the new deadline.
This is the fourth deadline given by Yadav to parties to name a prime minister and form the unity government following failure of the ruling Maoist-Madhesi coalition to hold elections within November 22.
In a bid to end the seven-month long political and constitutional crisis Yadav had stepped in and gave parties a seven day deadline on November 23.
He has since extended the time limit three more times after parties, both in the ruling coalition and in opposition, failed to agree on a candidate for the prime minister's post and sought more time.
As parties bicker on who would head the next government, which will be responsible for conducting the next parliamentary elections, the crisis in Nepal seems likely to prolong further.