Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister KP Oli has claimed that the Maoists had bargained hard to get 73 seats in the interim parliament.

“Without going to the people (in election), the Maoists have been able to get 73 seats, which is equal to the seats of Unified Marxist Leninist (UML),” said Oli, who is a powerful standing committee member of the UML.

Speaking at a program in Bhaktapur on Saturday, Oli said the Maoists were able to get those seats since UML did not resort to politics of bargaining.

Meanwhile, Oli termed November 8 agreement as second big step by the Maoists. “First was the 12-point agreement with the seven parties. Now, they have to take the third step – renounce violence,” he said.