4 January, Kathmandu. The division of ministries between the three main ruling parties is almost over. However, the expansion of the cabinet will only happen after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal takes the vote of confidence.
Prime Minister Prachanda is scheduled to take a vote of confidence on December 26.
Prior to that, a meeting of the top leaders of the five ruling parties, who are working to create a common program for the government, was held in Baluwatar on Wednesday afternoon. Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane has informed that even in the meeting which was called informal, overall matters including distribution of ministries were discussed.
According to sources, the number of ministries that the ruling CPN-UML, the Maoist Center and the National Independent Party will take is almost finalized. The discussion about other parties is ongoing.
According to a leader, UML will get 9 ministries. UML claimed 10 ministries. But since small parties should also be included, UML has agreed on the leadership of 9. He has taken over the Ministry of Finance, but the rest of the ministries have not been completed. Due to the non-finalization of the ministries, the three UML ministers who took oath on December 11 along with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda have not been able to hold their responsibilities.
The Maoist center will get 5 ministries including the office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, while the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RASP) will get three ministries. A source close to the Prime Minister said that there is almost an agreement to give a minister of state to the RSVP.
Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) and RPP leaders say that it will be decided whether they will come to the government only after finalizing the common program of minority opinion.
According to Home Minister Lamichhane, it has been agreed to finalize the Minorities Common Program tomorrow. After the summit meeting held in Baluwatar, he said, after the meeting, Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane said, ‘It can be made public by April.’
