Ruling-coalition meeting ends, no decision made

A meeting of the leaders of the parties of the ruling alliance that was held to decide the distribution of ministerial berths among the ruling parties has ended at the Prime Minister’s Residence in Baluwatar.

A key meeting on Tuesday ended with “no conclusion”.

The leaders said that the meeting will be held again at 9 am on Wednesday and efforts will be made to reach an agreement.

The issue of who will get how many and which ministry has become a bone of contention even though there is a consensus to involve all parties equally.

Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, President of Nepali Congress Sher Bahadur Deuba and Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka, Chairperson of CPN (Unified Socialist) Party Madhav Kumar Nepal, President of Nepal Samajwadi Party Dr Baburam Bhattarai, President of Loktantrik Samajwadi Party Mahantha Thakur, President of Janamat Party CK Raut, Nagarik Unmukti Party President Ranjita Shrestha, Rastriya Janamorcha Chair Chitra Bahadur KC and Aam Janata Party President Prabhu Shah were in the meeting.

Currently, in charge of 16 ministries, Prime Minister Dahal is running the government with the help of five ministers and a minister of state. Of them, five are from his own party and one is from the Janamat Party.