As Nepal Prime Minister Madhav Nepal prepares for a five-day visit to India, beginning August 18, the lack of consensus at home is threatening to turn the visit into a fruitless exercise.

The Prime Minister has agreed not to sign any major treaty or agreement during his visit to New Delhi, as demanded by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).

“I will not sign any major agreement,” Nepal said. “I will, however, be keen to have (an agreement) on the multi-purpose Pancheshwar Hydro-project if there is a consensus.” Nepal, sources said, may also sign a new trade treaty with India. The Prime Minister said he would invite Indian businessmen to invest in Nepal’s industrial sector.

However, no consensus has yet been reached at on other issues —including a new extradition treaty which, sources in Nepal’s Foreign Ministry said, India was keen to sign — even though only 48 hours are left before Nepal flies out of Nepal.

“Given the political situation at home and the fact that it is a transitional government, no agreements of major implications should be signed now,” said Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, Nepal’s former ambassador to Delhi.

Defence Minister Bidhya Bhandari and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala visited New Delhi recently to prepare for the Prime Minister’s visit. But Bhandari’s agenda — purchase of arms for the Nepal Army—was stalled as some UN agencies and Maoists raised strong objection, saying the move would jeopardise the ongoing peace process in Nepal.

On Saturday, Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood met the Prime Minister at his residence and discussed issues relating to the visit.