National
Maoists to join govt after ‘package deal’
CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that his party would join the government after forging a package deal with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s party CPN-UML.Tika R Pradhan
CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that his party would join the government after forging a package deal with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s party CPN-UML.
Since discussions between the two left allies have yet to conclude, sharing of ministerial portfolios and major positions in the unified party has not been fully clear.
“Positive discussions started with UML leaders on Friday. The two parties will reach a package deal before [the Maoist party] joining the government,” Dahal said while addressing the fifth national conference of the Unified All Nepal Teachers Organisation in the Capital on Friday.
The Party Unification Coordination Committee (PUCC) was expected to meet on Friday to finalise sharing of ministerial berths but it was postponed due to Prime Minister Oli’s busy schedule.
The two parties have a number of constitutional positions, ministries and political appointments to share between them besides top posts in the unified party.
PM Oli wanted to induct at least one minister from the Maoist Centre when he was sworn in on Thursday but the party refused to send its ministers without deciding on party merger first. On Thursday, a meeting of top Maoist leaders had decided not to join the government without finalising issues related to party unification.
Dahal said he believed that things would be settled within a day or two after discussion with UML leaders. PM Oli had sent leader Bishnu Poudel to meet Dahal to urge the Maoist Centre to name its ministers while settling issues through dialogue.
A Maoist leader said Oli and Dahal will meet on Saturday morning to finalise power-sharing issues. Meanwhile, some Maoist leaders claimed that the UML was reluctant for party unification as the largest party only wanted the Maoist Centre as a coalition partner.
“Since the PUCC meeting was called without sorting major issues, there was no concrete decision,” said senior UML leader Jhala Nath Khanal, a member of the two-party committee. He said party unification and government formation could be delayed if the two parties failed to reach a formal agreement.