Kathmandu  - Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala Saturday formally asked the Maoists to form the new government.

The Maoists emerged as the biggest party following the 10 April election to choose members of the constituent assembly that will draft a new constitution for the country and ratify the parliament's decision to abolish monarchy.

"The prime minister who is also acting as the head of the state formally asked the Maoists to take the initiative to form the next government," Minister for peace Ram Chandra Poudel told journalists.

"The Maoists will now put forward their views and the make up of the new government to the prime minister on Sunday," Poudel said.

There has been a spurt of activity ahead of the first sitting of the constituent scheduled for 28 May.

Despite the formal request to form the government, Maoists face opposition from Nepali Congress which has warned they will not support the Maoist led government until it mends its ways.

Nepali Congress has accused the Maoists of continuing violence and not returning properties seized by the party during insurgency despite agreements to do so.

Political analysts in the Nepalese capital say the Maoists will have to rely on the support of fringe left wing parties to form the government but may still fall short of the majority in the 601 seat special assembly.

The Maoists won 220 seats in the April elections, doubled the total number of seats won by the Nepali Congress.

The Maoists were involved in a decade long communist insurgency and were listed as a terrorist organisation by the Nepalese government until two years ago.

They joined mainstream politics after King Gyanendra's government was toppled by a mass movement in April 2006. (dpa)