The major ruling party Nepali Congress (NC) and coalition partner CPN (Maoist Centre) have stared preparations to set up the Constituency Determination Commission in tandem with the cabinet expansion.

NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi, who is also the coordinator of the NC's taskforce formed to undertake the formation of the Commission, held a meeting with the CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the latter's residence in Lazimpat on Monday and discussed about the formation of the Commission as well as the cabinet expansion.

Leader Nidhi said that the meeting concluded that the cabinet expansion would be completed within a day or two.

The meeting also decided to forward the constitution amendment proposal and to proceed talks with the Madhes-centric Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N).

Nidhi, also former Deputy Prime Minister, shared that the taskforce of the both parties would determine the number of the ministers and their portfolio from both the parties to induct in the cabinet.

Both the parties have agreed in principle regarding the representation of the ministerial berth from both parties in the cabinet, according to which the NC would induct 12 ministers while CPN-MC will send eight and the other fringe parties will get to induct some in the cabinet that currently has eight-members.

The meeting of the Council of Ministers would form the Constituency Determination Commission on coming Thursday, shared Nidhi as saying to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Nidhi and Ramesh Lekhak are in the NC's taskforce while Deputy Prime Minister and Barsha Man Pun are from the CPN (MC) in the taskforce.

The government is ready to take the constitution amendment process to voting as per the request placed by RJP Nepal, Nidhi said. RSS