Three ministers from Maoist-UML government sworn in
Kathmandu, 4 March: Hours after the Nepali Congress (NC)- Maoist coalition died an unnatural death, new government with two biggest communist parties – Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) and Maoist Center (MC) has occupied the seat of power.
Three ministers one each from coalition constituents- Padam Giri (CPN-UML), Hit Bahadur Tamang (MC) and DP Aryal (Rastriya Swatantra Party) have taken oath of office and secrecy today amid a ceremony held at Sheetal Niwas, office of the President.
President Ram Chandra Poudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to new cabinet allies of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.
The Nepali Congress and Maoist government came to an abrupt end after Maoist chief and Prime Minister Dahal ended the coalition agreement with NC and aligned with the CPN-UML, RSP and Janata Samajbadi party joining the government.
The NC-Maoist alliance lasted nearly 13 months but the two parties parted ways after their interest clashed.
Prime Minister Prachanda had accused Congress of sabotaging poll arrangements that caused the defeat of his party’s candidate in the Rastriya Sabha election from Koshi province last month.
The new government is likely to have at least four deputy prime ministers – one each from the coalition constituents but in all likelihood Narayan Kaji Shrestha may not find a berth in the cabinet.
As part of the arrangement between the new coalition partners, the post of chairman of the Rastirya Sabha will go to CPN-UML.
The seventeen-month old coalition led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ came to an end Maoist Center agreeing to ditch Nepali Congress, its partner in the government for the past 15 months.
After a series of meetings for about a month, and the final two rounds on Sunday, Prachanda and Oli formally decided to form the new coalition government led by Prachanda.
Rabi Lamichhane- RSP Chair and Upendra Yadav- Chair, Janata Samajbadi Chair aligning with the coalition had a separate meeting with Prime Minister Prachanda at his residence in Baluwatar late night Saturday.