Kathmandu, Sep 16 - Reacting to Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao's two-day visit to Nepal, the opposition Maoist party Wednesday claimed her 'unofficial agenda' was to assess a new prime minister for the Himalayan republic.

'The present government of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has failed,' said Chandra Prakash Gajurel, Maoist lawmaker and politburo member of the former guerrilla party.

'India is aware of that. Statements by Indian leaders imply that they feel an alternative should be found. During her interaction with the leaders of various political parties, Rao tried to look for an alternative, a new government that would be beneficial for India.'

Gajurel, who is former in-charge of the Maoists' foreign affairs, also alleged there was a conspiracy by 'regressive forces backed by foreign powers' to have the newly elected constituent assembly dissolved and prevent the drafting of a new constitution, which is at teh centre of of the peace agreement the former rebels signed three years ago to end their 10-year insurrection.

'And the Maoists will be portrayed as the villains,' Gajurel said. 'Already, there is propaganda by the media houses in Nepal and abroad to that effect.'

The Maoist lawmaker said his party, 'that had shed so much blood for a constituent assembly', remained committed to the promulgation of a new constitution.