CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has made it clear that his party decided not to send any ministers in the new Cabinet for now as the issues regarding party unification and allocation of ministries are still pending.

Addressing the 5th National Assembly of the Unified All Nepal Teachers Association (UANTA) in the Capital on Friday, the Maoist supremo said that discussions are underway with CPN-UML to prioritise the works of new government and allocate ministries in a package.

“Questions were raised after our party didn’t send any ministers in the first phase of Cabinet expansion on Thursday. We opted not to appoint ministers now as the meeting with CPN-UML on Wednesday evening could not make any solid decision,” said Dahal, “We will join the government within few days after forging a package deal.”

Brushing aside the growing public suspicion regarding party unification of CPN-UML and Maoist Centre, Dahal claimed that there are no big obstacles left in the unification process.

CPN-UML and Maoist Centre jointly contested in the recently held Federal Parliament and Provincial Assembly elections by forming a left alliance and garnered majority. The parties had declared unification in their joint manifesto. UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli was appointed as the 38^th Prime Minister of the country on Thursday. He had formed a small cabinet inducting two ministers from UML while Maoist Centre did not send its ministers.

Addressing the UANTA programme, former Prime Minister Dahal further said that the new government will now do the works that the earlier governments could not do. In this process, the government will need cooperation from teachers and think-tanks, Dahal said.