Kathmandu:
Street protests are familiar scenes from the past on the streets of Kathmandu. Maoists are protesting even now, blaming India for the current turmoil.
"It is the Indian ambassador who is to be blamed for the current crisis," says a local.
Elsewhere political leaders are trying to cobble together a working alliance and woo the Maoist back into power after President Ram Baran Yadav set Friday's deadline for government formation.
"The Maoist will have to be part of the government, otherwise the peace process is in danger. It doesn't matter if Prachanda is not there," says Jhalanath Khanal, President, CPN-UML.
Government formation apart, the main worry is to find an acceptable solution to the standoff with the army chief, Rookmangud Katawal, seen as someone who has India's total support - a charge India vehemently denies.
"India has no intention of interfering in the internal crisis of Nepal. We wish them well and we hope that the process of democratic transition would be taken to its logical conclusion and peace building will succeed in Nepal," said Anand Sharma, MoS, ExternalAffairs.
The uncertainty in Nepal persists even if the Maoists are back to doing what they do best--protest and raise the India bogey. No one has any idea how the current crisis will get resolved, but whatever happens, the Maoists will remain centre stage.