After the Maoists recalled Singh last year, they first proposed one of their top leaders, Surendra Karki, also known as Partha Chhetri, who was arrested in India during the Maoist insurgency and handed over to Nepali authorities.

However, New Delhi objected to Karki on the ground that he had links with underground organisations in northeast India and subsequently, the Maoists named another associate, former teacher Chandra Kant Poudel for the post.

Soon after the nomination, the Maoist government fell after a clash with the chief of the Nepal Army, Gen Rookmangood Katawal, and Poudel's nomination was put on hold.

Though India remains Nepal's biggest trade partner and one of the biggest donors, the key post has been lying vacant for almost eight months due to political reasons.

The Maoists are not likely to accept the new nominations with grace.

To add to their anger, the new government of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is said to be trying to appoint the controversial army chief and the Maoists' arch enemy Gen Katawal as the new ambassador to France.

After India had objected to Karki, the Maoists had named him ambassador to France and the French government had agreed to the proposal.