KATHMANDU: A meeting of the top-notch leaders of the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has started in Baluwatar on Monday morning.

The heavyweights of the ruling coalition are holding a formal discussion on the cabinet expansion in the meeting that began at 9:30 am, Baluwatar sources said.

Prime Minister Deuba, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal and Janata Samajwadi Party Chairman Upendra Yadav are in the meeting.

According to sources, Deuba is accompanied by senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel, General Secretary Purna Bahadur Khadka among others.

Similarly, Prachanda and Narayan Kaji Shrestha from the Maoist Center, Beduram Bhusal and Nepal from the Unified Socialist and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and Yadav from the JSP are attending the meeting.

NC President and Prime Minister Deuba, Maoist Center Chairman Prachanda, and Unified Socialist Chairman Nepal on Sunday morning had decided to initiate discussions on the cabinet discussion starting today.

Nepali Congress leader Purna Bahadur Khadka said that yesterday’s meeting was informal since Janata Samajwadi Party Chairman Upendra Yadav was out for special reasons.

They had also held discussions on the cabinet expansion at Baluwatar on Sunday evening.

It has been almost 50 days but Prime Minister Deuba has not been able to give a full shape to the cabinet expansion. He had taken charge as the PM on July 13.

PM Deuba has appointed four ministers — two from the CPN-Maoist Center and two from his own party NC.