Kudos to Maoists. In the game of politics, they came up with a very strong weapon and stuck to it.

This also proves that Prachanda is visionary and a very good politician; perhaps the parties holding majorities (UML/NC) underestimated Prachanda's power and though process.

Why? The last election for CA clearly showed how the tide had changed for the Maoists. Rallies protesting Maoists and division within its own party threatened Maoist's power base.
If all fails, what do you use? Division!! East India Company used it in India and it worked. Now, it's our turn.

Maoist knew they would regain their losing support if they stuck with their claim for ethnic based federalism. To be fair, the basis behind such federalism was not to divide people, but to recognize and provide support to the neglected ethnic groups. However, this doesn't seem to be the motive behind Maoist's stance. Rather, they are riling up the ethnic group for their autonomous states - insisting on giving them their own states. Had this not been the agenda, they would hardly have any support left in the country.

Quite visionary and shrewd politics in play...alas at the expense of Nepalis.