National
Maoist Centre preparing list of party’s ministers
As Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba gears up to expand his Cabinet, coalition partner CPN (Maoist Centre) has set the criteria for selecting ministers from the party.As Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba gears up to expand his Cabinet, coalition partner CPN (Maoist Centre) has set the criteria for selecting ministers from the party.
Following a successful completion of the second phase of local level elections, the ruling coalition has intensified discussion on selecting party leaders to be appointed ministers.
Maoist leaders said priority will be given to directly-elected lawmakers, taking their skills into account. The party’s team in the government would also be inclusive.
The Maoist Centre was ready to send its ministerial candidates before the second-round elections but PM Deuba opted to delay the Cabinet expansion to avert a possible dispute ahead of the vote.
Pressed to give a full shape to the Cabinet and the PM’s secretariat, Deuba discussed the matter with Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday evening.
Some six candidates would be recommended from the party. The Maoists already have three ministers and the NC has promised to appoint nine ministers in total from the party.
Maoist sources said Asha Koirala from Tanahun, Sita Nepali from Surkhet, Shiva Mandal from Morang , Shyam Shrestha from Ramechhap, Santa Kumar Tharu from Bardiya, Mahendra Bahadur Shahi from Kalikot, Hitraj Pande from Gorkha, Tek Bahadur Basnet from Salyan and Giriraj Mani Pokhrel from Mahottari are among those on the short list of candidates. Leader Haribol Gajurel said Chairman Dahal is working on the names which would be decided by a meeting of the party headquarters soon.
Probable names
- Asha Koirala from Tanahun
- Sita Nepali from Surkhet
- Shiva Mandal from Morang
- Shyam Shrestha from Ramechhap
- Santa Kumar Tharu from Bardiya
- Mahendra Bahadur Shahi from Kalikot
- Hitraj Pande from Gorkha
- Tek Bahadur Basnet from Salyan
- Giriraj Mani Pokhrel from Mahottari