Kathmandu  - The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Monday vowed to prevent the formation of a new government, a move that is expected to prolong the political crisis in the Himalayan nation.

The Maoist statement came a day after President Ram Baran Yadav asked the constituent assembly, which also acts as an interim legislature, to form a new government on a majority vote.

Nepal has been without an effective government since the Maoist-led government collapsed on 4 May over power struggle with the president, following the sacking of army chief Rukmangat Katuwal by the government.

On Monday morning, Maoist second-in-command Babu Ram Bhattarai said his party would not allow the formation of a new government until the president corrected his "mistake."

The Maoists have described reinstatement of Katuwal by the president as a "constitutional coup."

"The question is about restoration of civilian supremacy and the president overstepping his constitutional boundaries," Bhattarai said. "The new government can only be formed if the president addresses those issues and civilian supremacy is restored by sacking the army chief first."

On Sunday, Maoist lawmakers disrupted the session of the house which was to have initiated steps to vote in a new government.

Nepali Congress accused Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal of trying to stay in power despite resigning.

"It is a case where the prime minister who has resigned, is openly asking his party lawmakers to disrupt the house and prevent it from choosing a new government," Nepali Congress Vice President Ram Chandra Paudel said.

The political crisis erupted after the Maoist-led government sacked army chief Rukmangat Katuwal for insubordination, accusing him of disobeying government orders.

The move, opposed by a majority of the political parties in parliament, led to the president reinstating the army chief, prompting the prime minister to resign.

The crisis is also threatening to derail the two and half year old peace process which ended the decade-long communist insurgency and brought the Maoists into the political mainstream. (dpa)