KATHMANDU: The top leaders of the ruling coalition met at Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar on Saturday morning to discuss the cabinet expansion and the April 23 by-elections.
According to Baluwatar sources, Prime Minister and CPN-Maoist Center chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba, and CPN-Unified Socialist Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal met at Prime Minister Dahal’s residence today.
“The top leaders of the coalition discussed on various issues including forthcoming by-election and contemporary political issues among others,” said Prime Minister Dahal’s Secretariat.
The by-elections in Tanahu-1, Chitwan-2, and Bara-2 are scheduled for April 23.
Although Janata Samajbadi Party Chairman Upendra Yadav is contesting as a coalition candidate in Bara-2, Janamat Party and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) have fielded their own candidates in Bara.
Janamat Party chair Dr. CK Raut has warned Prime Minister Dahal to withdraw support given to the government provided the ruling coalition appeals all to vote for Yadav.
Similarly, NC candidates duo Jeet Narayan Shrestha and Govind Bhattarai have been presented as coalition candidates in Chitwan-2 and Tanahu-1 respectively.
Rabi Lamichhane’s RSP has fielded Dr. Swarnim Wagle in Tanahu-1, Chairman Lamichhane himself in Chitwan-2, and Former DIG Ramesh Kharel in Bara-2.
Likewise, CPN-UML has nominated former IGP Sarbendra Khanal in Tanahu, Ram Prasad Neupane in Chitwan, and former minister Purushottam Poudel in Bara.
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