Maoist supremo Prachanda has warned that his party may declare a “parallel government” in Nepal if the ruling coalition fails to address the dispute over “civilian supremacy”, which has forced them to take to the streets.

Prachanda, who headed Nepal’s first post-royal government, said the party may declare a “parallel government” if it was forced to move into the next phase of its protest to dislodge the alliance, the Nepalnews online reported.

Responding to threats to mobilise the Army to maintain law and order, Prachanda warned the government that they too would be compelled to take up arms if force was used to quell the protest. He challenged the 22-party government to mobilise the Army to subdue the Maoists, saying the Nepal Army is not the private property of some parties.

Addressing the national convention of Maoist-affiliated Madhesi Rastriya Mukti Morcha in Birgunj on Saturday, Prachanda said his party may declare “autonomous Madhes state” if it was forced to extend its agitation in the dispute with President Ram Baran Yadav over the reinstatement of General Rukmangad Katawal, the Army Chief dismissed by him in May.

Prachanda said a Maoist-led national “consensus government” would be in place by dissolving the ruling CPN-UML led coalition after the end of the current political deadlock within a week.