CPN (UML) Vice Chairman Bishnu Paudel is not going to join the government after he was denied the Finance Ministry.
According to sources, Paudel is unlikely to get the Finance Ministry, even though he played a crucial in the formation of the Maoist Center-UML new alliance.
He did not want to join the government after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ himself kept the Finance Ministry.
Sources have said that Prime Minister Prachanda is making preparations to assign the Finance Ministry to party Deputy General Secretary Barshaman Pun. Hence, there is a strong possibility that Pun will lead the Finance Ministry.
Similarly, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane is laying a claim to the Home Ministry. Lamichhane has been saying that the Home Ministry is the RSP’s bottom-line in the meetings with top leaders of the Maoist Center and UML.
“The Home Ministry is likely to go to the RSP,” the sources said, “UML Chairman KP Oli also in the mood for finalizing the allocations of ministries in favor of the Prime Minister. Oli holds has no intention to take the Home Ministry.”
All in all, the UML is unlikely to have both Finance and Home ministries.
“The UML will take all the ministries earlier held by the Nepali Congress except the Finance Ministry, according to the agreements. The allocations of the ministries will be finalized by tomorrow,” said the source.
Padam Giri took the oath of office and secrecy as a minister without portfolio on Monday itself. Other leaders likely to become ministers representing UML are Rajendra Rai, Bhagawati Chaudhary, Damodar Bhandari, Hari Uprety and Jwala Kumari Sah.
Leaders are making efforts to include CPN (Unified Socialist) led by Madhav Nepal and Loktantrik Samajbadi Party led by Mahantha Thakur in the new alliance.
Four political parties -- the UML, Maoist Center, RSP and Janata Samajbadi Party-- reached an eight-point agreement to form a new ruling alliance after Maoist Center Chairman and Prime Minister Prachanda severed ties with the Nepali Congress.
