Key parties in Nepal's ruling alliance have indicated they may not join the next government to be formed under the leadership of Maoists, who have emerged as the surprise single largest victors in the landmark Constituent Assembly polls.
"We have not given big emphasis to joining the government and the Nepali Congress has not yet made up its mind on whether to join the new government or not," said NC central committee member and newly-elected legislature Narahari Acharya.
"Now we are focussing on drafting the new Constitution which is very important at the moment and we have not yet discussed the matter relating to joining the government."
As the people have given the mandate to Maoists to form the government, it is upto them to decide how they would form it, he said.
Another Nepali Congress leader Mahesh Acharya, a close aide of Prime Minister G P Koirala, said the party's Central Working Committee would decided whether to join the government or not.
Their remarks came in the wake of Maoists coming closer to securing majority of seats in the 601-member Constituent Assembly for which the elections were held on April 10.
Acting General Secretary of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), Amrit Bohara, said Maoists have not yet discussed the government formation matter with his party.
"We are committed to drafting a democratic Constitution to establish a federal democratic republic and our efforts will be directed towards that at present," he said.
CPN-UML, one of the major coalition partners, has already decided to ask its ministers to quit the present government following its humiliating defeat in the polls.
