Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has said that CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' would be the next prime minister during the initial period of ruling coalition's government.
Speaking to journalists prior to taking the oath of office at parliament building in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, today, Sharma, who is also Maoist Center deputy general secretary, claimed that a government would be formed under Prachanda's leadership within the next 10 days.
Stating that talks were underway among ruling parties for government formation, he apprised that the dialogue was momentarily on hold since CPN United Socialist Party Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal was taken ill and admitted to hospital.
"We are holding discussions for government formation. Discussions have not progressed as leader Nepal is ill in the hospital," he said, adding, "As soon as leader Nepal recovers, a meeting of the coalition would decide the new prime minister. Prachanda is likely the first prime minister and the alliance will make a concrete decision on it."
He stated that it was Prachanda's turn as Sher Bahadur Deuba had become the Prime Minister after the alliance was formed. "Discussions about it are ongoing among the ruling parties."
Sharma said that the President would also be elected from the ruling coalition and possible faces for presidency were being mulled.
He also claimed that either senior Nepali Congress leader Ramchandra Poudel or CPN Unified Socialist Chairman Nepal would become the new president from the ruling coalition.
Nepali Congress, the main party of the ruling coalition, has already decided to form the government under its leadership and elected party president Deuba as the leader of the parliamentary party.
