A day before Nepali Congress (NC) holds the meeting of its district president, expected to be crucial for deciding party’s stand on monarchy, a Maoist minister has threatened to walk out of the government if the NC does not opt for republic Nepal.

Speaking at a function organised by the Maoist affiliated journalists in Pokhara on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day Thursday, Local Development Minister Dev Gurung said his party would walk out of the government if the Congress did not become ready to declare Nepal a republic.

According to Gurung, the NC had agreed on the republic agenda while signing the 12-point understanding in New Delhi, the party has changed its position now and has become more inclined to support monarchy.

He also accused the NC for the deferral of the constituent assembly polls.

Meanwhile, Maoist chairman Prachanda has stressed the need for leftist unity to smoothen the way for establishment of republic at the earliest.

At a book-launching programme in the capital on Thursday, Prachanda said the unity has become crucial to resist the foreign interference in the country.

He said the constituent assembly polls could not be held in an easy environment until monarchy remained in the country.