Nepal, Feb. 13 -- That the recent National Assembly elections and unexpected results of the Koshi Province have deepened divisions in the ruling alliance has been known for some time. Yet Prime Minister and Maoist Centre chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal had been mum on the issue-until now.

Dahal broke the silence on Monday at the party's central committee meeting, blaming the Congress for deceiving his party, which in turn had renewed doubts about the longevity of the ruling alliance.

"The CPN (Maoist Centre) has reached a point where it must rethink the alliance with the Nepali Congress," a Maoist Centre central committee member quoted Dahal as saying at the meeting.

In recent Maoist Centre internal meetings, several second-rung leaders had b...